Pop Warner football bans 3 point stance
From professional to pee-wee, football leagues are making changes to protect players.
Pop Warner — America’s oldest youth football organization — is banning the three-point stance for the 2019 season.
The ban covers the three youngest divisions — tiny mite, mitey mite, and junior pee wee.
Players will no longer be allowed to put a hand down on the field before snapping the ball.
The rationale behind the change is to avoid head injuries.
In the three-point stance, players are more likely to lead with their heads because of a lower-body position.
Now they will start plays in a squat or upright position.
Pop Warner plans to eliminate the stance for all divisions eventually — but there is no timeline for that yet.
Head injuries from concussions are a growing concern among football leagues and players.
The Alzheimers-like disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy has been found in the brains of many former players.