POP WARNER SPIRIT PROGRAM
Cheerleading was officially recognized in the 1970’s, but
has been a part of the Pop Warner program for several decades.
The first ever National Cheerleading competition was held in DeKalb
County, GA. Today, 140,000 children are participating in cheerleading
and dance around the United States.
Participation in the Pop Warner Spirit Program provides kids
an opportunity to perform in an organized, supervised, safety-oriented
environment. Pop Warner programs emphasize fun for all and encourage
the development of qualities important long after Pop Warner days
are gone.
The Spirit Program is growing in numbers each year due to the
popularity of the sport. In an effort to keep pace with the many
new changes in the cheer & dance industry, there are a few
basic rules that are unique to Pop Warner Spirit Squads.
CHEER SQUADS
| |
|
AGE |
| Flag |
Boys & Girls
|
5-6-7* |
| Mitey-Mite |
Boys & Girls
|
7-8-9* |
| Junior Pee
Wee |
Boys & Girls |
8-9-10* |
| Junior Midget |
Boys & Girls |
10-11-12* |
| Midget |
Boys & Girls |
11-12-13-14* |
* The asterisked (*) provisions in each division
are for those leagues/associations that carry “older but lighter” football
players. The age of the spirit participant may match the age
of the football players in that same division. (i.e., if the
league permits a football player to be a 13 year old, older-lighter
junior midget, then the spirit squad may also sign-up a 13 year
old participant on the corresponding cheer/dance squad.) The
spirit participant is matched in age only, weights do not apply.
1. Only a League that requires the ages of the spirit squads
correspond to the playing ages of the team with which they are
associated shall be permitted to send spirit squads to any competitions
sanctioned by PWLS outside their League. Outside their league
would be defined as PWLS Region or PWLS National Competition.
2. A squad, regardless of the ages of its
spirit participants, must be rostered, certified and registered
in the same age division as the football team with which it
is associated (e.g., it cannot cheer at midget games and compete
as a junior midget cheer squad). The only exception to this
rule is a squad registered as “Cheer/Dance
without Football”. Reference Rule 3- Formation of Squads
for the definition of Cheer/Dance without Football.
3. The participant's age on July 31st of the current year shall
be the participant's age for the coming season.
|
