Pop Warner Celebrated the organizations 90th anniversary at Walt Disney World. The 2018 Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships starts today at ESPN Wide World of Sports. My family is a part of the football and cheer world for year. I coach youth cheerleading, my husband coaches youth football, both of my boys have played football since they were 6 years old, and my daughter has cheered since she was 6 as well! Walt Disney himself knew how important these types of athletic programs were to the youth of America.
Pop Warner has been providing youth football for 90 years! This week they will celebrate with over 60 teams from around the nation competing for a title in their division. The organization got its start in 1929 in Northeast Philadelphia as a way to get local teenagers involved in an athletic program, so a four-team Junior Football Conference was formed. In 1933, a local clinic was scheduled for top college coaches to speak to almost 800 athletes. Due to inclement weather, the only coach to show was Temple’s head coach Glen Scobie “Pop” Warner, thus the youth program was renamed the Pop Warner Conference.
The first National Pop Warner-Disneyland Bowl Football Festival, now known as the Pop Warner Super Bowl, was held in 1959 in the Holidayland area of Disneyland. In 1969, the game was moved from Anaheim, California to Orlando, Florida as a prelude to the opening of Walt Disney World. From 1971 -1980, the competition had a couple of name changes including the Walt Disney World-Pop Warner Football Festival and the Pop Warner – Walt Disney World Bowl. Since 1997, the Pop Warner Super Bowl has been played at the current ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
In 1960, Walt Disney Productions produced a two-part television episode entitled “Moochie of Pop Warner Football” broadcast on ABC as part of Walt Disney Presents. In the second part, From Ticonderoga to Disneyland, Walt Disney appears in a cameo role when the team wins the First Annual National Pop Warner Disneyland Bowl game.Today, there are over ten million alumni of the Pop Warner Football program. The National Football League Players Association estimates that between 60-70% of all NFL players began their careers playing Pop Warner Football.Pop Warner Spirit teams have participated in the organization for many decades on the football sidelines but it wasn’t until the 1970s that the Cheer and Dance Program was officially recognized. The first National Cheer and Dance Championship was held in 1988 and the event celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.
Want to watch all the action? Spectators can purchase single-day admission for $18.50 (ages 10+) or $13.50 (ages 3-9), or a length-of-tournament pass for $55.50 (ages 10+) or $40.50 (ages 3-9). Not able to make it in person? Select games will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN App. Pack your bags and get ready! Let’s book your adventure to Walt Disney World today! Ready to experience Disney for yourself? Click the photo above or fill out the form below to receive a free no obligation quote from a Certified Disney Travel Specialist from Pixie Dusted Dreams Travel and Events, the official travel partner for Chip and Company. As an agent with Pixie Dusted Dreams Travel and Events, I can help from everything to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Paris, Universal Orlando, Sea World, and so much more! Best of all my services are absolutely FREE! Get in touch at 716-479-5412 , via email at heather@pixiedusteddreams.com or follow along on Facebook. Or fill out and submit the form below.
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