Serving Valley Youth - Football and Cheer
since 1984
Started in 1963, POP WARNER is the ORIGINAL Youth Flag, Tackle and Cheer program in Arizona.
WE are the ORIGINAL and the BEST!
Here are a few of the many reasons you should join North Central Pop Warner:
ü Stability – Founded in 1929 by Joe Toplin, Pop Warner is the oldest national youth football and cheerleading organization in the world.
ü NO TRYOUTS! – Pop Warner programs have no tryouts or cutting of rosters!
ü Mandatory Play Requirements – Everyone participates under mandatory rules of play, so every child is guaranteed to play.
ü Age-Weight Structure – Kids compete with kids of similar age and size. In addition to age only based teams, we also and enforce a strict AGE & WEIGHT MATRIX that reduces the risk and reality of injuries for our weighted teams.
ü It all starts here – The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) estimates that between 60% and 70% of all NFL players began their careers playing Pop Warner Football.
ü Safety, Safety, Safety! – Kids compete with kids of similar age and size. Did you know that Pop Warner football is safer than soccer? Pop Warner football has 12% fewer injuries per capita among 5-15 year olds than organized soccer in the same age range!
ü Background Checks – Pop Warner programs nationwide are required to annually conduct a background check of Coaches, Board of Directors members and any other persons, volunteers or hired workers, who provide regular service to the league and/or have repetitive access to, or contact with, players and/or spirit participants. The purpose of these background checks is, first and foremost, to protect the children.
ü Programs in 42 States & 7 Countries – Pop Warner has active programs in 42 states and 7 different countries.
ü More than just athletes! – Pop Warner is the only national youth sports organization in America that requires its participants to perform adequately in the classroom before permitting them to play.
ü Little Scholars Program – Pop Warner is one of the few national youth sports organization in America that rewards its members for their outstanding performance in the classroom.
ü Pop Warner National Championships – Each year, Pop Warner hosts the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships. For the past 15 years, the event has taken place at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex™ at Disney World. More than 300 cheer and dance squads and 64 football teams compete for the right to be crowned Pop Warner National Champion.
ü College Scholarships - Each year, we award scholarships for higher education to the most deserving students in our highest grade levels. Pop Warner is proud to have awarded nearly one million dollars in scholarships in just 17 years!
ü Concussion Prevention & Awareness –In addition to its more stringent return to play concussion rules, which have been in place for the 2010 season, Pop Warner recently announced the formation of the inaugural Pop Warner Medical Advisory Board. The Medical Advisory Board was created to ensure Pop Warner remains proactive on all medical issues that affect youth sports, particularly football and cheerleading, with a primary focus on prevention and proper identification and treatment of concussions, hydration awareness, proper nutrition guidelines, and general health and safety issues.