The following paperwork is required for all athletes for the 2026 Season. 

PLEASE NOTE: Electronic documents MUST be submitted no later than June 30, 2026.

1,  During the registration process, parents/guardians will complete and electronically sign the National Pop Warner forms including the 2026-2027 Youth Participant Medical History Form and the 2026-2027 Participant Contract and Parental Consent Form.  

2.  Per Chicagoland Pop Warner requirements, parents/guardians are required to upload a PDF of their athletes Birth Certificate or Passport (no hospital records) to their athlete's profile.  ***If a team qualifies for playoffs an original birth certificate with the raised seal will be required prior to the start of playoffs.  If a player is unable to submit an original birth certificate they will be ineligible to compete.

3.  A copy of the athlete's final 2025-2026 report card is required to be turned in during first week of practice.  The report card must include grades for the entire school year, child’s name, grade and school.  No screenshots will be accepted.  Please note, eligible athletes in 5th - 8th grade applying for Little Scholars will need to submit the full 2025-2026 report card when completing the online application when it becomes available. 

Scholastic requirements will play a part in determining player eligibility.  We understand that not all student-athletes are able to meet Pop Warner scholastic requirements. 

• If a child does not meet the National Scholastic Requirement of 70% and/or 2.0 GPA at the time of certification, he/she may fill out and submit a 2026 Scholastic Eligibility Form.  An improving progress report or report card must be submitted by October 15th to be eligible for play. If no improving progress report or report card is given in this window then the player shall be found ineligible for the rest of the year.

• If your athlete is home schooled, you will need to complete a 2026 Home School Form.  

• The forms can be found here: Scholar Forms

• If your athlete is not of age to attend school or receive a report card, you will need to complete a preschool form which will be handed out the first week of practice.

If, for any reason, the PDF’s are illegible you will be asked to upload a clearer image.  

All new athletes will be required to have their picture taken for ID’s during the first week of practice.

If you have questions or need more information regarding player paperwork, please email our Scholastics Director at [email protected]

SCHOLASTICS OVERVIEW
Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. (PWLS) is the only national youth sports organization in America that requires its participants to perform adequately in the classroom before permitting them to play.

We believe that the standards we have set give these children a sense of responsibility and an appreciation for academics and athletics that will help them develop later on in life.

Like such organizations as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Federation of High Schools (NFHS), PWLS has academic guidelines and criteria that need to be met in order for a child to participate.

SCHOLASTIC FITNESS: NATIONAL POLICY
Proof of satisfactory progress in school is required. 70% and/or 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) or the equivalent shall be the minimum grade point average acceptable to participate. In cases of doubt, conflict of opinion, or if a valid report card is not submitted, the nationally published Scholastic Eligibility Form shall be used and deemed final.
NOTE: This rule as it relates to scholastic grades may not be made more stringent by any team, association, or league, as other rules may be. No local team/squad may be allowed to participate in Regional/National sponsored championships or bowl games if it has not met the nationally published scholastic requirements.

WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE A 70% AND/OR 2.0 GPA?
We understand that not all student-athletes are able to meet our scholastic requirements. If a child does not meet the requirements of scholastic fitness, he/she may fill out and submit a Scholastic Eligibility Form.

This form is to be completed by those participants in the Pop Warner program that have not met the National Scholastic Requirement of 70% and/or 2.0 GPA at the time of certification.

This form must be accompanied by an improving progress report or report card to be eligible for play after the deadline. If no progressing progress report or report card is given in this window then the player shall be found ineligible for the rest of the year. Download the Scholastic Eligibility Form.

POP WARNER ALL-AMERICAN SCHOLAR PROGRAM:
Each year, the most academically accomplished Pop Warner kids compete for Academic All-American status. This process begins at the association level and up through each of the eight Pop Warner regions to the national level.

The Pop Warner All-American Program requires a minimum 96% GPA to apply. After the applications have been processed, Pop Warner determines National First Team All-Americans (35 football, 35 cheer per grade), National Second Team All-Americans and National Honorable Mention Scholars.

POP WARNER ALL-AMERICAN SENIOR SCHOLAR:
All-American Senior Scholars are Pop Warner participants in Grades 8 & above who achieve First Team All-American status. All-American Senior Scholars are eligible for scholarships at the National Level. Click here to learn more.