HEADS UP!

USA Football launched Heads Up Football in 2012, an exciting  program that emphasizes a safer and smarter way to play and teach youth football.

Funded in part by the NFL Foundation, Heads Up Football is designed to change the culture around America’s favorite sport and enhance player safety at the youth level. This comprehensive solution promotes coaching education, concussion recognition and response, heat preparedness and hydration, sudden cardiac arrest, proper equipment fitting and Heads Up Blocking and Tackling.

USA Football’s Heads Up Football program focuses on eight key areas:

• Coaching education:  All coaches within an organization or program are required to complete USA Football's nationally accredited Coaching Certification Course, which trains them in important health and safety issues along with the game's fundamentals.
• Equipment Fitting: Particularly the proper fitting of the helmet and shoulder pads.
• Concussion recognition and response: Employing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols.
• Heat preparedness and hydration: Establishing approved protocols from the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut.
• Sudden cardiac arrest: Having plans and procedures in place in case of cardiac events.
• Heads Up Tackling: Teaching the fundamentals of this all-player skill in a safer way.
• Heads Up Blocking: Teaching the fundamentals of contact for offensive players without the ball.
• Player Safety Coach: Appointed by a school or organization, this individual ensures compliance with Heads Up Football player safety protocols, coach certification and continuing education with coaches, players and parents.