Greater South Bend Area Pop Warner Association
football
Greater South Bend area Pop Warner
HARD, WORK & FUN
football overview
Pop Warner football has been around since the inception of the league in 1929 by founder Joseph J. Tomlin as a four-team conference in Northeast Philadelphia.
Since then, participation has steadily increased to today’s record numbers. Over 225,000 youths participated in Pop Warner-sanctioned football programs in 2019, and those numbers are continuing to grow.
South Bend Bulldogs
Play Pop Warner Football
safety first
Pop Warner places value on safety measures that make a difference. That’s why we have also done things in football like reduce contact to 25% of practice time, eliminate kickoffs for our youngest divisions and require that any player who suffers a suspected head injury receive medical clearance from a concussion specialist before returning to play.
WHY THERE ARE NO PERSONAL STATISTICS:
Pop Warner exists to use football, cheerleading, dance and a respect for education to develop strong, smart, responsible, healthy young men and women. We give them experiences that build their appreciation for and understanding of leadership, teamwork, and discipline.
While individual statistics may be more common, particularly among older football players, Pop Warner only recognizes the athletic accomplishments of the team, not the individual. We don’t track personal tallies of touchdowns or yards rushing per game. We don’t count sacks or blocked kicks.
Not only that, but we applaud the athletic efforts of the team to reinforce the importance of teamwork, with each member.
We don’t try to build stars. We don’t want to over-inflate a young ego, nor do we want to risk injuring the self-esteem of a young person. Whether our kids have good days or bad, they are still an integral part of our team…and always will be.
Pop warner South Bend
Age Based Divisions
Pop Warner offers TWO options for tackle football programs:
- Option 1: Traditional age/weight schematic provides a uniform series of three basic years of age qualification for each level of play, with a fourth year of eligibility falling under more stringent weight restrictions (the “older/lighter”
player).
- Option 2: The age based schematic provides a 2-year age span for the younger divisions (starting with 5/6 yr. olds.) and a 3-year age span for the older divisions (10U, 12U & 14U). No minimum or maximum weights.
** 2 point stance for offense and defensive linemen must be used in the following levels of play: TM, MM, JP, 5/6, 7/8, 8/9/10.
** No kickoffs permitted in the following levels: TM, MM, JP, PW, 5/6, 7/8, 8/9/10.
South Bend Bulldogs
2023 AGED BASED DIVISIONs
DIVISION | INCLUSIVE BIRTHDAYS |
| 5-6 (6U) | 08/01/2013 – 07/31/2015 |
| 7-8 (8U) | 08/01/2011 – 07/31/2013 |
| 8-9-10 (10U) | 08/01/2009 – 07/31/2011 |
| 10-11-12 (12U) | 08/01/2007 – 07/31/2009 |
| 13-14-15 (14U) | 08/01/2005 – 07/31/2007 |
A child’s age on July 31 is his/her age for the season
Ages & Weights
A player is placed in a division based on his or her age and weight. Greater South Bend Area Pop Warner Association may also instead choose to register players based on age only. Currently, an estimated 75-80% of youth football nationally follows an age-only structure.
Age & Weights
A player is placed in a division based on his or her age and weight. Greater South Bend Area Pop Warner Association may also instead choose to register players based on age only. Currently, an estimated 75-80% of youth football nationally follows an age-only structure.
South Bend Bulldogs
Ages & Weights divisions
There are Six Divisions of play, all determined by an age/weight scale.
AGE/WEIGHT DIVISION | AGE(S) | CERTIFICATION WEIGHT | END OF SEASON WEIGHT |
| TINY-MITE | 5-6-7 | 35-75 lbs. | 84 lbs. |
| MITEY-MITE | 7-8-9 | 45-100 lbs. | 109 lbs. |
JR. PEE WEE (older/lighter) | 8-9-10 11* | 60-115 lbs. 60-95 lbs. | 124 lbs. 104 lbs. |
PEE WEE (older/lighter) | 9-10-11 12* | 75-130 lbs. 75-110 lbs. | 139 lbs. 119 lbs. |
JR. VARSITY (older/lighter) | 10-11-12 13* | 90-155 lbs. 90-135 lbs. | 164 lbs. 144 lbs. |
VARSITY (older/lighter) | 12-13-14 15* | 105-180 lbs. 105-160 lbs. | 189 lbs. 169 lbs. |
*The asterisked provisions in each division allow the so-called “older but lighter” player also qualify. The last year of eligibility fails under more stringent weight restrictions, per above.
A child’s age on July 31 is his/her age for season.
Greater South Bend area Pop Warner
Play Pop Warner Football
What are the Requirements to Participate in Pop Warner?
● Must be between 5-15 years of age as of August 1st.
● Meet the Pop Warner Age-Weight Requirements: Football I Cheer & Dance
● Participant must have a 70%/2.0 grade point average from the previous school year Those not meeting the scholastic requirement may submit a Scholastic Eligibility Form, a progress report system used to monitor the participants grades throughout
the season.
What Do I Need to Bring to Registration?
● Original Birth Certificate (with raised seal).
● Participant Contract/Parental Consent Form – name must match birth certificate exactly.
● Physical Form – dated after January 1st of current year and signed and stamped by physician.
● Year-End report card for current year (4 quarters).
Additional Information to Consider Regarding Registration/Signing Up:
● Pop Warner programs have no tryouts or cutting of rosters.
● Greater South Bend Area Pop Warner Association’s 2021 registration fee is $250 and that covers the cost of equipment, fees, fields, officials, and transportation.
● Pop Warner has a Mandatory Play Rule (MPR) for all teams – every child plays!
● A typical season consists of a 7 to 9 game regular season schedule.
● Pop Warner participants and volunteers must abide by the Code of Conduct.
● Take a look at some of the many Benefits of Playing Pop Warner.