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 250,000 youths participated in Pop Warner-sanctioned football programs in 2008, and those numbers continue to grow.
Northern Indiana Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. (NIPWLS) is part of the Mid-America Region. This is one of eight regions located throughout the United States. The Mid-America Region had over 700 tackle football teams during the 2008 season, of which 189 where from the Northern Indiana Pop Warner league.
Safety First
Kids compete with kids of similar age and size. Pop Warner is the only youth football program (local, regional, and national) that sets and enforces a strict age and weight matrix that reduces the risk and reality of injuries. 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 (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, NEISS).
Age & Weight Matrix
| Division | Weight | Ages |
| Tiny Mite | 35-75 lbs. (no older/lighter) | 5 & 6 year olds |
| Jr. Mitey Mite | 45-90 lbs. (no older/lighter) | 7 & 8 year olds |
| Mitey Mite | 45-90 lbs. (no older/lighter) | 9 year olds |
| Jr. Pee Wee | 50-105 lbs. | 8, 9, 10 year olds |
60-85 lbs. (older/lighter) | 11 year olds |
| Pee Wee | 75-120 lbs. | 9, 10, 11 year olds |
75-100 lbs. (older/lighter) | 12 year olds |
| Jr. Midget | 85-135 lbs. | 10, 11, 12 year olds |
85-115 lbs. (older/lighter) | 13 year olds |
| Midget | 105-160 lbs. | 11, 12, 13, 14 year olds |
105-140 lbs. (older/lighter) | 15 year olds |
| Unlimited | 105 + lbs (no older/lighter) | 12, 13, 14, 15 year olds |
This age & weight matrix reflects changes approved by Northern Indiana Pop Warner Little Scholars and the National Pop Warner office. See National Rule Book and/or Age & Weight Matrix for inclusive birth dates to confirm the age of the participant.
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 and blocked kicks. We applaud the athletic efforts of the team to reinforce the importance of teamwork with each member.