Football: Pop Warner Football - A League for Kids

By Michele Blandino

At some point in their lives, many little boys – and, indeed, some girls – will strap on a football helmet and take to the field with dreams of becoming the next big football hero.

And for many parents, allowing their child to do so will represent a huge dilemma as they attempt to balance the happiness of their child with their safety. A large number of these parents will turn to organized youth football leagues to help satisfy their child’s desire to play in the hope that by doing so, their child will be under the supervision of trained coaches.

One of the biggest youth football leagues, Pop Warner Football has been providing this opportunity to children since 1929. With leagues operating in 41 states, over 350,000 girls and boys ages 5 through 16 participate in Pop Warner football and cheerleading programs each year. Programs are also operating in Japan and Mexico.

Safety First

Pop Warner football players all play on teams with kids of the same age and size. The smallest players (ages 7-9) are called Mitey Mites and can weigh between 45 and 85 pounds. Successive divisions have age and weight overlaps which helps to allow for differences in size and skill. For instance, the division following Mitey Mites – the Junior PeeWee Division – is for players ages 8-10 who weigh between 55 and 95 pounds. Next comes Pee Wee (ages 9-11, 10-110 pounds), followed by Junior Midget (ages 10-12, 80-125 pounds), Midget (ages 11-14, 95-145 pounds), Junior Bantam (ages 12-14, 115-160 pounds and Bantam (ages 13-15, 130-175 pounds).

Players’ weights are closely monitored throughout the course of the season with no player allowed to gain more than 9 pounds during the season’s duration.

In addition to the age and weight limitations, Pop Warner Football maintains strict equipment requirements to help reduce the likelihood of on the field injuries. In addition, all coaches attend mandatory training and risk management courses.

Building Respect

One of the unique aspects of Pop Warner football is that while score is kept during the course of a game, individual statistics are not. This is particularly refreshing in this sports-crazed culture where emphasis on individual performance begins as a young age.

This is all part of the Pop Warner philosophy: teamwork.

In addition, participants in Pop Warner programs must maintain at least a 70% average in all classroom subjects.

Other Things You Should Know

Playing on a Pop Warner football team represents a huge commitment. Most teams begin practicing on August 1st and hold mandatory daily practices at least until the beginning of the school year. This can put a serious crimp in family vacation plans, so it’s best to check out your particular team’s requirements before signing up. The season consists of between 7 and 9 games, usually played on weekends and concludes with playoffs that, depending on the team’s success, could last well into December.

Finally, Pop Warner also has a flag football division for kids who may not be interested in the full contact version of the game. Open to children ages 5-16, this league does not carry the stringent weight restrictions as the tackle league, but nonetheless provides a good opportunity for kids to get involved in the action.