National Pop Warner Statement on California Initiative

The National Director for Pop Warner, Jon Butler has issued a statement on the current legislative initiative in California trying to ban youth football.

“There have been recent calls by legislators in several states to outlaw young people from playing tackle football. The latest proposal is from California. While we welcome any sincere efforts to advance safer play we do not agree that banning tackle football is the answer. Choosing which sport their child can play is a parent’s decision, not ours and not the government's. Instead, we believe the answer can be seen in the series of dramatic rule changes and safety protocols we have implemented since 2010, all of which were guided by an independent medical advisory committee of neurologists, sports medicine professionals and medical researchers. Quite simply, youth football is dramatically different today than the era most researchers are studying. There is greater awareness, more education and better rules. Because we believe it’s up to the families and their children to decide what’s best for them, Pop Warner offers the option of tackle or flag football, and we will continue to work closely with partners like USA Football on even more changes aimed at improving safer play. Millions of young people have played Pop Warner football for nearly 90 years and benefited from the experience. Outlawing that benefit for future generations would be misguided."