Pop Warner Football

Founded in 1929 by Joseph J. Tomlin, Pop Warner Football maintains its distinction as the only nationwide youth sports program that requires its participants achieve certain levels of academic success to participate. After Tomlin noticed an appalling increase in youth vandalism in his home community of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he created the Junior Football Conference, which became the Pop Warner Conference with the addition of American college football coach Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner to the lineup.

After almost a decade, the organization blossomed from its beginnings in Philly to include 157 teams in big city neighborhood all over the country. While the wartime efforts halted the organization's growth, after the war they continued to recruit more players and teams to join in their league. By the 1960s, there were over 3,000 teams enrolled in the Pop Warner Football programs.

In the 1970s, they began to diversify their athletic offerings, adding a cheerleading program for girls. Further reflecting their ability to change with the times, the Pop Warner program added a flag football league in 1983.

What started as a simple organization to keep kids off the streets and playing football has blossomed into a nationwide sensation. Currently approximately 360,000 children and youth between the ages of 5 and 16 take place in Pop Warner Football and Little Scholars programs across the country. The Pop Warner Football program is also branching out internationally, with teams and leagues sprouting up in Mexico and Japan, pushing the total number of teams worldwide to over 5,000.

A highlight of the Pop Warner Football season is its annual National Championship held at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex. Often referred to as the Pop Warner Super Bowl, this event brings together 64 teams from across the nation who compete in 4 different age ranges (Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Midget and Midget) for the coveted distinction and bragging rights of national champion

Since its humble beginnings back in 1929, the philosophy of the Pop Warner Football, Cheer and Dance programs has been such that athletic success goes hand in hand with academic achievements. Therefore, the Pop Warner programs dualistic focus on the fundamentals of athletic skill with the importance of academic success creates a well-rounded individual prepared for the challenges that one faces when entering the real world. Plus, it allows kids to have fun in a safe environment while providing the kind of positive encouragement that is essential for any child's successful development of good self-esteem.

Not only do Pop Warner Football programs aim to aid children and youth at becoming the best they can be, they also run a series of community outreach programs to improve the communities to make them a better vehicle for success.