Little Scholars: Excellence in the Classroom & On the Field

The Only Youth Sports Program with an Academic Requirement

The San Diego Youth Aztecs are proud members of the West Coast Conference Pop Warner Little Scholars program. We believe that the skills learned on the gridiron and the cheer mat—discipline, dedication, and perseverance—should start in the classroom.

As part of the only national youth sports organization that requires its participants to perform adequately in school before permitting them to play, we hold our athletes to a higher standard. At the Aztecs, we don't just build great players; we build great students.

Academic Eligibility & Scholastic Fitness

To ensure our student-athletes prioritize their education, we strictly follow the WCC and National Pop Warner scholastic policies:

• The 2.0/70% Rule: All participants must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA (70%) or the equivalent to be eligible for the season.

• Report Card Verification: Proof of satisfactory academic progress is required during registration. We require a full copy of the previous year's report card to certify every athlete.

• Scholastic Eligibility Form: For students who may be struggling or do not currently meet the 2.0 GPA requirement, we offer a "Scholastic Eligibility Form." This allows them to participate while following a monitored progress plan to get back on track.

Pop Warner All-American Scholar Program

Each year, the most academically accomplished Aztecs compete for the prestigious Pop Warner All-American Scholar status. This is the highest honor a youth athlete can achieve, representing the top 1% of all participants nationwide.

• Eligibility: Open to student-athletes in 5th grade and above.

• Requirements: A minimum 96% Grade Point Average from the previous school year and a completed All-American Scholar application for National recognition. A minimum 92% Grade Point Average from the previous school year and a completed All-American Scholar application for Regional recognition.

• Recognition: National First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention scholars are recognized at the annual WCC Scholastic Banquet and are eligible for national scholarships.

• Deadline to Apply is TBD.

West Coast Conference All American Scholar Procedures

ALL-AMERICAN SELECTION PROCESS:

• All-American Scholars are scored on a 118 point scale: 100 points (85%) for the student's grades for the prior school year and 18 points (15%) for the attached Addendum sheet of activities and achievements.
• Once the scores have been calculated, First Team All-Americans are selected. The top 35 football players and 35 cheerleaders per grade (plus ties) are selected as National First Team All-Americans.
• Second Team All-Americans are then determined by Pop Warner based upon the number of applications that were submitted for that year.
• Applicants who are not selected as 2nd Team All-Americans are named Honorable Mention Scholars in recognition of qualifying for this prestigious academic achievement. 

Pop Warner will announce its annual All-American Scholars via the Pop Warner website and newsletter each spring. Each scholar will receive a congratulatory letter from Pop Warner indicating their scholastic accomplishment, and a certificate of achievement for National All-Americans.