HEADS-UP FOOTBALL: THE INITIATIVE
Lee Franconia Football League (LFFL) is a staunch supporter of the Heads-Up initiative spearheaded by the USA Football Association and the National Football League. Heads Up Football is a new approach USA Football and the NFL are embarking on to change the culture of America's favorite sport.
This comprehensive solution to player safety promotes concussion awareness and management, coaching education, proper equipment fitting and Heads Up Tackling as well as a set of recommended standards for parents, coaches and leagues.
Click here to learn more about how the game is evolving to protect your children while playing the sport they love!
MORE THAN 900 YOUTH LEAGUES
COMMIT TO SAFER FOOTBALL
THROUGH USA FOOTBALL’S
HEADS UP FOOTBALL PROGRAM
Nationwide program launched with $1.5 million grant from the NFL Foundation
More than 900 youth football leagues across the United States representing more than 200,000 players and 30,000 coaches nationwide have committed to the health and safety of their young players by adopting Heads Up Football, a new USA Football pilot program for the 2013 season dedicated to making the game better and safer.
The Heads Up Football program promotes a positive youth football experience and advances player safety by providing coaching education and teaching resources that benefit players, parents and coaches. Heads Up Football aims to take the head out of the game. USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFL and its 32 teams.
Heads Up Football is comprised of five primary elements:
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Heads Up Tackling
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· USA Football’s Heads Up Tackling technique, endorsed by medical and football experts, teaches players to keep their heads up and out of the line of contact.
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Coaching certification
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· All coaches within a youth program are trained to teach the game’s fundamentals by completing USA Football’s nationally accredited Level 1 Coaching Certification Course.
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Concussion recognition and response
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· Coaches learn and are assessed on CDC concussion recognition and response through USA Football’s Level 1 Coaching Certification Course.
· Coaches, parents and players are taught concussion-related protocols at the start of the season at a leaguewide clinic and have them reinforced throughout the season.
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Player Safety Coach
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· Appointed by each participating Heads Up Football youth organization. This individual is trained by USA Football to implement Heads Up Football’s player safety protocols, including coaching certification, and conducts safety clinics for coaches, parents and players.
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Equipment fitting
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· Coaches, parents and players are taught proper helmet and shoulder pad fitting.
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Seventy-eight former NFL players also will participate in the program as Heads Up Football Ambassadors, working with youth leagues to reinforce the Heads Up message. Former NFL standouts CARL BANKS, TONY CASILLAS, RANDALL CUNNINGHAM and BARRY SANDERS are among those serving as Heads Up Football Ambassadors. They will work alongside youth leagues, attending select practices and games while endorsing Heads Up Football.
Youth coaches of participating leagues will be trained in Heads Up Football techniques before leading their teams this season. All head coaches and assistant coaches are required to complete USA Football’s accredited Level 1 Coaching Certification Course, which includes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concussion recognition and response protocols; proper helmet and shoulder pad fitting; and Heads Up Tackling techniques, which aim to take the head out of the line of contact, and teach proper fundamentals.
Parents can help ensure their youth football players are participating in a better and safer brand of football by visiting www.usafootball.com. Youth leagues can register online today for Heads Up Football and to have their coaches certified.
“The health and safety of every youth player is USA Football’s No. 1 priority,” USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck said. “These leagues show exceptional dedication to their players, parents and coaches. Each of them is committed to the highest standards of player safety and coaching education in all of youth sports.
“We are proud to have them and our Heads Up Football Ambassadors be part of this program.”
“As chairman of the NFL Foundation and as a parent of two young football players, I believe the Heads Up Football program is essential in making the game we all love safer for youth players,” said CHARLOTTE JONES ANDERSON, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president and chief brand officer. “The program is also important for parents, providing resources for their kids to play the game safely and properly. The NFL Foundation is pleased to be supporting this important program.”
“I’m proud to be a part of USA Football’s Heads Up Football program,” said Sanders, a Hall of Fame running back with the Detroit Lions. “Football is a fun game which offers so many rewards and instills countless positives for our kids when the game is taught correctly and coaches are prepared to teach. Heads Up Football accomplishes this. The program is changing for the better how youth football is played.”
Heads Up Football is the future of the game. Through Heads Up Football, each youth league will nominate a Player Safety Coach to be trained by USA Football. Player Safety Coaches will implement and monitor Heads Up Football player safety protocols within the organization. They also work with league commissioners, coaches, parents and players throughout the season to provide on-site clinics and mentoring to employ coaching and player safety best practices. Parents are encouraged to be involved throughout the process, to ensure their youth players are learning Heads Up Football skills.
In addition to the NFL and NFL Foundation, organizations that support Heads Up Football include the NCAA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Federation of State High School Associations, American Football Coaches Association and Sports and Fitness Industry Association. Organizations that play youth football that have adopted or endorsed Heads Up Football include the United Youth Football League, National Police Athletic League, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Jewish Community Centers Association. The goal is to encourage all 10,000 youth football leagues across the country to sign up for Heads Up Football.
Former NFL players serving as Heads Up Football Ambassadors:
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STATE
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ORGANIZATION (PARENT ORGANIZATION)
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CITY
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HEADS UP FOOTBALL AMBASSADOR
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Alaska
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Southcentral Alaska
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Anchorage
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Jake Plummer
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Juneau Youth Football League
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Juneau
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Jake Plummer
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Alabama
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Princeton Youth Athletics
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Birmingham
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Al Del Greco
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Arkansas
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Arkansas AAU
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Little Rock
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Reggie Swinton
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Bentonville Youth Football Association
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Bentonville
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Steve Conley
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Arizona
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Empowerment Through Sports Youth Football League
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Gilbert
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Bryan Gilmore
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Williams Youth Football & Cheer (Northern Arizona Youth Football League)
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Williams
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Al Gross
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California
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Benicia Youth Football & Cheer
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Benicia
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Hardy Nickerson
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Del Norte Nighthawks Youth Football & Cheer
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San Diego
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Eric Allen
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Colorado
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Denver PAL
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Denver
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Randy Gradishar
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Connecticut
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Vernon Vipers (Connecticut Youth Football & Cheerleading League)
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Bloomfield
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Tebucky Jones
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Westport PAL Football (Fairfield County Football League)
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Westport
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Vince Workman
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Delaware
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Brandywine Warriors Football and Cheerleading (Bert Bell Memorial Football Conference)
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Bellefonte
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Erik Williams
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Florida
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Avon Park Youth Football (Mid Florida Football & Cheerleading Conference)
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Avon Park
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Tony Mayberry
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Jacksonville PAL (Greater Jacksonville Pop Warner Football Conference)
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Jacksonville
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Pete Mitchell
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Tamiami Colts (Xtream Youth Football League)
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Miami
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Troy Drayton
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Georgia
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Cascade Wolverines Youth Football (Metro Atlantic Youth Football League)
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Atlanta
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Coy Wire
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Central Dekalb Jaguars Youth Football (North Metro Youth Football League)
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Atlanta
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Brian Finneran
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Hawaii
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Kauai Youth Football
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Kauai
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Ma’a Tanuvasa
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Iowa
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Little Roadrunner Football (Pride Of Iowa Youth Football League)
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Truro
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Garry Howe
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Metro Youth Football Association
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Cedar Rapids
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Marv Cook
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Idaho
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Southeast Idaho Youth Football League
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Pocatello
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Jake Plummer
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Illinois
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Antioch Vikings Youth Football & Cheerleading (The Chicagoland Youth Football League)
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Antioch
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Otis Wilson
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Carol Stream Youth Football (Bill George Youth Football League)
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Elmhurst
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Mike Richardson
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Indiana
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Center Grove Bantam Football League
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Bargersville
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Rosevelt Colvin
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Franklin Township Youth Football
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Indianapolis
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Mike Prior
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Kansas
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Wyandotte County Youth Football & Cheer
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Kansas City
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Shawn Barber
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YMCA of Topeka
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Topeka
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Anthony Davis
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Kentucky
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Bud Hudson Youth Football League
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Hopkinsville
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Marty Moore
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Fort Thomas Junior Football League
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Fort Thomas
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Merril Hoge
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Louisiana
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Ascension Cougars Youth Football (Tri-Parish Youth Football League)
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Gonzales
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Brian Kinchen
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Goretti Park (NORD)
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New Orleans
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Pat Swilling
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Massachusetts
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Westfield Youth Football (Suburban Amateur Football League)
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Westfield
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Vernon Crawford
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Maryland
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Mechanicsville Braves Football and Cheer (Metro League Sports Association)
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Mechanicsville
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LaMont Jordan
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Owings Mills Wolfpack Youth Football Program (Greater Baltimore Youth Football League)
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Baltimore
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LaVar Arrington
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Maine
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Aroostook Huskies Football
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Presque Isle
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John Huard
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Scarborough Football Club (Southern Maine Youth Football League)
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Scarborough
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John Huard
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Michigan
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Farmington Rockets Junior Football & Cheer (Oakland Macomb Youth Football Association)
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Farmington
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Barry Sanders
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Lincoln Park Junior Rails (Downriver Junior Football League)
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Lincoln Park
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Eric Hipple
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Minnesota
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Centennial Youth Football Association
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Circle Pines
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John Swain
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Mississippi
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Iron Horse (TNT Youth Football & Cheer League)
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McComb
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Lester Holmes
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Missouri
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Twin City Youth Football Association
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Festus
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Marc Bulger
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Montana
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Missoula Youth Football
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Missoula
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Blaine McElmurry
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North Carolina
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg PAL (Little Panthers Pop Warner)
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Charlotte
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Eugene Robinson
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North Carolina Youth Football Optimist League
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Charlotte
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Deveron Harper
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Nebraska
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Jr. Mavs Football (Heartland Youth Football League)
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Omaha
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Chris Bober
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New Hampshire
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Portsmouth Youth Football Association (Seacoast Junior Football League)
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Portsmouth
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Pat Hughes
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New Jersey
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Florham Park Falcons (West Essex Junior Football League)
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Florham Park
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Ray Lucas
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Montclair Cobras Junior Football (Twin Valley Football Conference)
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Montclair
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Carl Banks
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New Mexico
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New Mexico Youth Football League
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Albuquerque
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Preston Dennard
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NERF Las Cruces
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Las Cruces
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Roy Gerela
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Nevada
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Anthem Cougars Youth Football (Elite Youth Sports)
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Las Vegas
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Art Plunkett
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Elite Green Valley Knights Youth Football (Elite Youth Sports)
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Las Vegas
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Randall Cunningham
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New York
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Commack Youth League (Suffolk County PAL)
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Commack
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Keith Bulluck
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North Tonawanda Athletic Association (Niagara Youth Football League)
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North Towawanda
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Mark Kelso
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Ohio
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Columbus Vikings (Karl J. Fulton Pony League)
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Columbus
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David Fulcher
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Mentor Youth Football Association
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Mentor
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Jamel White
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Oklahoma
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OKC Wolfpack (Oklahoma Elite Football League)
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Oklahoma City
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Kenny Blair
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Oregon
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Alberta Park Youth Football (PAL of Portland)
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Portland
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Drew Mahalic
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Lakeridge Youth Football (Tualatin Valley Youth Football League)
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Lake Oswego
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Neil Lomax
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Pennsylvania
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Hopewell Midget Youth Football League (Western PA Youth Football)
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Aliquippa
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Jason Gildon
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North Shore Stallions
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Pittsburgh
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Jeff Hartings
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South Carolina
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Blue Ridge Youth Association (Greenville County Recreation District)
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Taylors
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Antonio Goss
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Mt. Pleasant Youth Association (Greenville County Recreation District)
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Greenville
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Patrick Sapp
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South Dakota
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Boys & Girls Club of Watertown Tackle Football
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Watertown
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Brian Hansen
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South Dakota Junior Football
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Sioux Falls
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Neil Graff
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Tennessee
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Southeast Memphis Athletic Association
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Memphis
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Aaron Hayden
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West Nashville Broncos Youth Football (Mid-State Youth Football League)
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Nashville
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Blaine Bishop
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Texas
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CY-Fair Sports Association
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Cypress
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Ricardo McDonald
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Frisco Football League
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Frisco
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Tony Casillas
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Utah
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Herriman Mustangs (Ute Conference)
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Herriman
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Chad Lewis
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Hunter Wolverines (Ute Conference)
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West Valley City
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Luther Elliss
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Virginia
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Central Loudoun Youth Football League
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Leesburg
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Brian Mitchell
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Vermont
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Colchester Football Boosters Association Incorporated (Northern Vermont Youth Football League)
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Burlington
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Karl Swanke
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Fairfax Patriots Youth Football League (Northern Vermont Youth Football League)
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Chittenden
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Ralph Kurek
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Washington
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CD Panther Football and Cheer (South King County Junior Football League)
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Seattle
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Craig Terrill
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Rainier Valley Football Association (South King County Junior Football League)
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Seattle
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Randall Morris
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West Virginia
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Follansbee Blue Wave
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Follansbee
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Jeff Hostetler
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North Parkersburg Rambler's Football
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Parkersburg
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Oliver Luck
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Wisconsin
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Fox Valley Pop Warner Football
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Appleton
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Tim Terry
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Green Bay Packers (Duck Creek Pop Warner)
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Suamico
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Ahman Green
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USA Football’s Heads Up Tackling technique was developed with contributions from USA Football’s Tackle Advisory Committee, which includes Northwestern head coach PAT FITZGERALD, UCLA head coach JIM MORA, former NFL running back MERRIL HOGE, Miami Christopher Columbus High School head coach CHRIS MERRITT and sports psychologist DR. DAVID YUKELSON.
About USA Football: USA Football, the sport’s national governing body, leads the game’s development, inspires participation and ensures a better and safer experience for all youth, high school and other amateur players. The independent nonprofit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competitions and awards more than $1 million annually in equipment grants and youth league volunteer background check subsidies. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002, USA Football (www.usafootball.com) is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.
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