Cv1.

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 contents
inside slants
2 Kickoff with Scott Hallenbeck
7 “I Played”
27 Meet a USA Football Staffer:
Nate Boudreaux
29 Meet a USA Football Board Member:
Bob Gardner
30 Football Facts, Stats & Figures
32 What Football Taught Me
Father Kevin Fimian,
St. Timothy Parish, Chantilly, Va.
Westfield High School’s Tom
Verbanic (above), one of
Virginia’s most successful prep
head coaches, instructs 2008
USA Football Player Academy
campers (pg. 4)
Photo by Shawn Hubbard
Front Cover
Photos: State Forums by Matt Williams,
Coaching Schools by Scott LeVeque,
Player Academies by Shawn Hubbard
01 Contents.indd 1
issue 9 • spring 2009
features
4 Player Academies: 8 Chuck Kyle demands more
Learn, Develop & Excel than just talent from Team USA
By Stefen Lovelace Character, patriotism high on prospective
player profile
6 Youth & high school football By Dave McMahon
“feeding” each other
By Stefen Lovelace 28 Texas prep coach attends
Super Bowl XLIII as
USA Football & NFL guest
By Chris Shepard
league enhancement
20 State Leadership Forums unite football leaders
coaching By Steve Alic
12 USA Football Coaching Schools open 21 USA Football Regional Managers
By Steve Alic
22 Mississippi league nets $14,000 in fundraiser
13 Quick-Hitter Grid By Nicole Lukosius
Thoughts from USA Football Coaching Members
14 Takeaway-Giveaway with Tom & Larry 23 USA Football’s Certified Coaching Education
Program
By Tom Bass & Larry Canard
By Steve Alic
15 “What If?”: In-Game Coaching Scenarios
16 Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports Grants officiating
By Rashad Mulla
24 USA Football expands officiating training events
17 Art of the Catch: Help a good receiver get better By Tim Polzer
By Dave McMahon
25 Meet a USA Football Member: Pete Dardis
By Chris Shepard
health & Fitness
26 Certified Officiating Education Program making
18 What football has taught my son: Melanie Duncan a difference in Tampa, Fla.
By Nicole Lukosius By Tim Polzer
2/18/09 10:42:06 AM
 Kickoff

Dear Readers,

Remember when you played youth football?

Maybe you were like me and rode your bike to practice with your helmet’s facemask usafootball.com
hooked to the handlebars. The excitement you felt when reaching the field and seeing your
friends and coaches filled your chest with stirring anticipation. Chairman
Jack Kemp
Those same feelings fuel the game today – we see it
in you, our members in all 50 states and Washington, Executive Director
Scott Hallenbeck
D.C. – and USA Football’s non-profit office shares that
passion.
We’re in a three-point stance, ready to launch
Usa football
the most ambitious and exciting schedule in USA
Football’s seven-year history with more than 100
editorial staff
training events, the assembly of America’s first
Managing Editor
national team in football composed of our nation’s
Steve Alic
top high school-aged players, the awarding of up to
$1 million in equipment grants to football programs Contributors:
Tom Bass, Larry Canard,
based on merit and need, and more. Nicole Lukosius, Stefen Lovelace,
There’s never been a better time to be part of Rashad Mulla, Tim Polzer,
the youth and high school football community. Chris Shepard
Whether you’re a coach, game official or youth league
commissioner, USA Football’s resources and initiatives To contact USA Football: 
help you excel in America’s favorite sport and foster positive football experiences for your (703) 918-0007
players. After all, teaching and sharing football’s character-building traits of teamwork,
perseverance and leadership with them is why you give of yourself to power this game.
In the next 30 pages you’ll review dueling points about unconventional offenses in youth
football, find out how youth leagues and high school programs can benefit each other, read traction media staff
insight on the art of catching a football, check out the latest on USA Football’s Junior National
Team and the IFAF Junior World Championship, learn what the mother of a Texas Tech Publisher
Rudy J. Klancnik
starting linebacker says football taught her son, and more.
Editorial Director
And just as it’s been since we opened our doors in 2002, USA Football’s regional managers
Tim Polzer
and office staff is ready to serve you. Refer to your USA Football regional map on page 21 and
Designer
ask your regional manager how he can help you gain an edge or strengthen your league. In william Bridgeforth
addition, you’re only a toll-free call (1-877-5-FOOTBALL) or a couple of mouse clicks away
(usafootball.com) from our home office. Traction Media
We hope to see you at a USA Football event in the months ahead to prepare you for the Editorial Offices
2009 season and help you teach the game and its inherent values to our next generation of 7115 Tartan Trl.
leaders. They’ll remember it – and treasure it – forever. Garland, TX 75044
Tractionmedia@aol.com

Sincerely, Editorial Department Phone

(972) 896-8006
Custom Publishing
We want to hear your tho (972) 898-8585
ughts about
USA Football Magazine
. Write to us at USA Football Magazine is published by Traction
Scott Hallenbeck magazine @usafootball.c Media, LLC©. All rights reserved. Traction Media
om today.
USA Football Executive Director does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Publisher
assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited
manuscripts or art. No part of this magazine may
be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without the
written permission of the editor.

2 USA Football Magazine

02 Letter.indd 2 2/18/09 10:42:31 AM

UA_3.indd 7 2/18/09 10:41:21 AM
 By chris shepard

F
ootball is a sport that continually
evolves. In that same spirit, USA
Football’s 2009 event schedule
includes 12 Player Academies to propel a
young player’s skill development.
USA Football Player Academies,
designed for youth players aged 9 to 14,
encompass three days of instruction
covering the fundamentals of offense,
defense and special teams.
“I learned how to take a toss and a
handoff from the quarterback when playing
I learned how to read the quarte rback
better and also how to open my hips when
fullback,” said Jacob Estes
of Annandale, Va., who
took part in one of USA
Football’s two “pilot”
player academies in 2008.
“I also learned how to
carry the ball better when
running.
“On defense, I
learned how to read the
quarterback better and
also how to open my hips
when pursuing
when I’m playing
linebacker. This
was a great camp!” an effective 10-to-1 player-to-clinician
Players are split into three age ratio. Clinicians are recognizable and
brackets – 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14 – accomplished high school and youth
allowing for age-appropriate pace and coaches from a camp’s surrounding area.
sophistication. The camps’ controlled With an on-field and classroom football
and limited contact incorporates curriculum, Academy players also learn
game-like situations. from keynote speakers lending insight
“I’ve been coaching youth football and inspiration to excel as both athletes
for four years now and this was by far and people. Age-appropriate classroom
the best camp that I’ve experienced,” sessions focus on rules, Xs and Os, film
said Matt Estes, Jacob’s father. “The study and more.
things that Jacob learned put him In addition to an exciting football
at least a year ahead of other kids in experience, campers receive a jersey, shorts,
his league. The coach-to-player ratio and a high-performance T-shirt from Under
photos: shawn hubbard

pursuing when I’m playing linebacker. This
was a great camp!
– Jacob Estes, Annandale, Va.
was excellent for his age group. He’ll
definitely return to this camp this
summer.”
USA Football Player Academy
enrollment is capped at 200 for
Armour, USA Football’s official apparel
outfitter.
To register today, visit usafootball.com
and click “Player Academies” under the
gold “Players” tab.

4 USA Football Magazine

04 Player Academies.indd 4 2/18/09 10:43:06 AM

 2009 EVENTS
USA Foot ball
To register, go to
usafootball.com/academy

Player Acade my Schedule

Location Venue
Date
Chicago, Ill. Benedictine University
June 8-11
Poinciana, Fla. Poinciana High School
June 15-18
Dallas, Texas Rockwall High School
June 15-18
Canton, Ohio Walsh University
June 22-25
Chicago, Ill. Lincoln Way Central H.S.
June 29-July 2
San Diego, Calif. Helix High School
July 6-9
Alexandria, Va. Episcopal High School
July 6-9
Raleigh, N.C. Pinecrest South Pines H.S.
July 13-16
Atlanta, Ga. Lassiter High School
July 20-23
Annapolis, Md. Christian High School
July 20-23
Philadelphia, Pa. United Spor ts Training Center
July 27-30
Haines City, Fla. Haines City Parks and Recreation
July 27-30

Coaches Officials
Other Event Schedules: Page 12 Page 24

04 Player Academies.indd 5 2/18/09 10:43:24 AM

 Youth & high school football
“feeding” each other By Stefen Lovelace

T
wo years ago, youth football Morgan said that the relationship is backgrounds,” Swenson said. “It has been a
changed in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. already proving to be beneficial. South Lake’s real asset to us in several ways.”
At that time, Chuck Leonard had freshmen team increased to 35 players this Little Pro Youth, serving 2,000 players,
just become president of South Tahoe Pop year after having just 15 a year ago. Working was established when Valley H.S. built a
Warner, while Chris Morgan became head together with South Tahoe Pop Warner has new home stadium. The high school plays its
football coach at South Tahoe High School. made his program more competitive. games on Fridays, allowing the youth league
The two men decided to form a relationship In West Des Moines, Iowa, the Little Pro to use the field on Saturdays and Sundays;
that would benefit both football programs. Youth Tackle Football League and West Des a situation that presented itself partly
“We started working very closely with Moines Valley High School have worked due to the programs’ close relationship.
the high school varsity coach and together since 2003, Along with strengthening one
his staff,” said Leonard, a USA the year that the youth another, partnerships between
Football coaching member. “We league was created. youth leagues and high schools
take their offense and scale it Valley’s current junior promote a greater sense of
down to something that’s similar class came up through community.
for our kids so when they get to Little Pro Youth and “Cultivating a good
the high school level, they are the varsity coaching relationship with high
already familiar with the system.” staff has already seen a school programs is key in my
Chuck Leonard chris morgan
The relationship that Leonard difference. opinion,” said Little Pro Youth
and Morgan have formed is becoming more “The dramatic difference is the fact that they Commissioner Dave Murillo, who has held
common around the country. Many youth understand a little bit about the game and have his position since the league’s inception
leagues work hand-in-hand with local high some experience blocking and tackling,” said and also serves as a USA Football event
schools to form a cohesive “feeder system” Valley High School head coach Gary Swenson. organizer with Central Regional Manager
relationship to prepare young players for the Swenson serves on Little Pro Youth’s board of Joe Owens. “I think it enhances the game of
prep level. directors and is the offensive coordinator for football in all areas.”
“We want the young guys to come to our USA Football’s 2009 Junior National Team. Join the 1.1 million visitors who logged on
games and say ‘Look at [No.] 44,’” Morgan said. “There are some outstanding coaches to usafootball.com in 2008 for more coaching
“‘I want to be like 44 when I get to high school.’” in these youth leagues with phenomenal and league commissioner insight.

6 USA Football Magazine

06 Feeder.indd 6 2/18/09 10:43:44 AM

 USA Football’s “I Played” campaign has reached more than 100 million Americans through television coverage on CBS,
ESPN, FOX, NBC and NFL Network as well as Westwood One Radio’s national airwaves. Since “I Played” kicked off last August,
thousands of usafootball.com visitors have read or submitted an “I Played” story. To share your football story or to read those of
others, visit usafootball.com. Below are excerpts of recent “I Played” story submissions. H

Scott Moss Alan Owens Frederick Privette

Manufacturing Combat Photographer Chef (pictured left)
Greenwood, Ind. Fort Meade, Md. Raleigh, N.C.

I’ve coached in the Greenwood
(Ind.) Bantam Football League for
three years now. It’s a great joy for me
to teach football and the life skills that
the game holds.
I played football for a small school
in East Texas (Mt. Vernon H.S.). Our
coaches set the tone for our success
(Coaches Rotten, Randolph, Fowler,
Parks and Stoker). These men have
been my inspiration for coaching, as
they all had their own methods, but
were all instrumental toward making
our team successful.
I grew up with only my mom and
I was not exactly a model citizen as
a child. I had repeated issues with
discipline and school work.
Mom knew how much I loved
football, so she spoke with Coach
Stoker about me joining the team.
Soon after, Coach Stoker became a
father figure to me. This man helped
me turn my grades around and helped
develop me into a more disciplined
child. I still feel his influence today.
My grandfather taught me about
football and life. I played football
from the first grade through college.
Once I joined the military, I played
flag football on every post where I
was stationed.
Football taught me teamwork.
I know that sounds cliché, but it’s
true. Teamwork is something that we
use everyday in the military.
My fondest memories of playing
football would have to be going to
the state championship two years in a
row in high school and walking on at
the University of Arkansas. I learned
from every coach I had growing up. It
wasn’t about winning and losing, but
making sure I had the skills to make
it to the next level and in life.
Now, I enjoy coaching my son
and his friends. I started coaching
three years ago with a local Pop
Warner flag football team. For the
past two years, I’ve been coaching
tackle football for the youth sports
program on Fort Meade.
I started playing football when
I was 9 years old and I retired from
minor league football at 28. Football
taught me how hard work can pay off
and a little extra work doesn’t hurt.
In my senior year in high school, we
didn’t win a single football game and I
wanted to quit so bad because I didn’t
want to be labeled a loser. I toughed it
out and at the end of the season I won
our team’s “Coach’s Award” and had a
chance to play college football.
Life threw me a curveball and I had
to give up football, but like the saying
goes, “If you love something, let it go and
if it was meant to be, it will come back.” I
found a local semi-pro team was holding
tryouts and to make a long story short,
I made the team. It turned into nine
winning seasons and a lot of fun.
I made a lot of friends, became
a student of the game and now I
volunteer my services to high school
football players to help them become
better football players and men. So in
the end, I was a winner after all.

“My daughter is a big part of my football career and I like showing her, by example, that
you can do anything you put your mind to.”
– Jamie Azone, Business Owner & Independent Women’s Football League Player (Tennessee Valley Tigers), Huntsville, Ala.
7

07 I Played.indd 7 2/18/09 10:43:58 AM

 Chuck Kyle demands more
than just talent from Team USA
Character, patriotism high on prospective player profile
By Dave McMahon

W
hen USA Football’s Junior
National Team, comprised of
this summer’s graduating high
school seniors, competes in the International
Federation of American Football (IFAF)
Junior World Championship in Canton,
Ohio, ballyhooed players will gain the honor
of wearing the USA’s colors.
In addition to being much-hyped, these
athletes will work with a “Who’s Who” of
high school coaches, led by 10-time state
champion-winning USA Football Junior
National Team head coach Chuck Kyle of
Cleveland St. Ignatius High School.
You’re a highly successful football player
in your hometown, you’re graduating this
spring and you have dreams of representing
your country in an eight-country field. Do
you have what it takes to play for Team USA?
“As we start making our plans here, we’re
looking for talent that would fit into what
we’re doing offensively and defensively,”
Kyle said in January while meeting with the
Team USA coaching staff at the American
Football Coaches Association convention in
Nashville, Tenn. “An important part of this
thing is character – patriotism, to be very
honest with you.
“For a very unique moment in this young
man’s life, he is going to
be representing the United
States of America and
playing with ‘U-S-A’ on
the front of his jersey. Our
fight song is the national
anthem. You’re thinking
of way more than yourself.
That, added on with talent,
is what we’re looking for.”
Competing against the chuck kyle, Head Coach
best players from Canada, USA Football Junior National Team
France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New
Zealand and Sweden, USA Football’s Junior
National Team will be a competitor, host
and ambassador.
“Patriotism should be a motivation in
this situation,” Kyle said. “When these
teams get off the bus, we should be the
guys greeting them. We should be the guys
shaking their hands and saying hello. We
want to show them that we’re the friendly
Americans. This is going to be a celebration colleges that he’s pretty good.”
of the sport.
“When we’re playing the game, we’re
going to hit and play it as hard as we can,
but we want it to be a friendly situation out
there. You extend your hand to help the guy
up. And when the other kid makes a great
play, don’t be afraid to tell him,
‘Nice play.’ There’s no big deal
about that.”
The visiting teams will use
Team USA as a measuring stick
of sorts to determine how far
the sport has come in each
country.
“They’re going to be
thinking, ‘We’re going to go
against the United States of
America, and hopefully the
United States of America is going to show
up with some very, very good talent,
because why come over here to play against
guys that really aren’t that good?’”
On the other hand, football fans that
have never seen the game played outside of
the homeland may be in for a surprise.
“There are some players in these other
countries, talented kids,” Kyle said. “A kid
could come over here and show a lot of
At the same time, America’s finest high
school seniors will do the same.
Click “U.S. National Team” atop the
usafootball.com homepage for more about Team
USA and visit jwcfootball.com, the official online
home of the IFAF Junior World Championship.

IFAF Junior World

Championship
June 27 - July 5, Canton, Ohio
The International Federation of American Football canada france germany japan
(IFAF) Junior World Championship kicks off on June
27 and concludes with its gold-medal game on July 5
in Canton, Ohio. USA Football’s Junior National Team
will represent the United States in the eight-nation
tournament. For tickets and travel packages, visit
mexico new zealand sweden united states
www.usafootball.com/jwc/tickets.

8 USA Football Magazine

08 JWC.indd 8 2/18/09 10:44:15 AM

 USA Football
Junior National Team
Coaches Gather
Chuck Kyle
in Music City Ed Croson

T
he USA Football Junior National Team coaching staff met for four
days of meetings and discussed Team USA with more than 6,000
college football coaches during the American Football Coaches
Association (AFCA) annual national convention
in Nashville from Jan. 11-14.
USA Football built its 10-member coaching
staff among the country’s top prep head coaches
Steve Specht Jeremy Gold
spanning nine states. Led by Cleveland St.
Ignatius head coach Chuck Kyle, America’s
first high school-aged national team in football
will represent the United States in the 2009
International Federation of American Football
(IFAF) Junior World Championship in Canton,
Ohio’s Fawcett Stadium from June 27-July 5. Kyle and Team USA offensive
coordinator Gary Swenson of West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley High School
each led their programs to state championships this past season, the 10th
and fifth of their decorated careers, respectively.
Gary Swenson During the AFCA convention, Kyle presented his vision and goals for Frank Lenti
Team USA at the following sessions: the AFCA High School Forum, the
Big 10 Conference Head Coaches Meeting, the AFCA High School Coaches
Clinic and the Football Bowl Subdivision Head Coaches Meeting.
Throughout its four days of meetings, the USA Football staff discussed
Team USA’s roster composition, preliminary player selection, playbook
assembly and an itinerary for training camp to be held at Walsh University
in North Canton, Ohio, starting in mid-June (see page 10).
For more about Team USA, the IFAF Junior World Championship and
tournament travel packages to Canton, Ohio, visit usafootball.com.
Tom Bainter Chris Merritt
COACH POSITION HIGH SCHOOL
Chuck Kyle Head Coach Cleveland St. Ignatius
Steve Specht Defensive Coordinator Cincinnati St. Xavier
Gary Swenson Offensive Coordinator West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley
Tom Bainter Running Backs Bothell (Wash.)
Marcus Boyles Wide Receivers Wayne County (Miss.)
Ed Croson Offensive Line West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade
Jeremy Gold Defensive Line Ann Arbor (Mich.) Pioneer
Marcus Boyles Frank Lenti Offensive Line Chicago Mount Carmel Allen Wilson

Chris Merritt Defensive Backs Miami Christopher Columbus

Allen Wilson Linebackers Dallas Carter

08 JWC.indd 9 2/18/09 10:44:17 AM

 America’s Coaches on America’s Game
Several USA Football Junior National Team assistant coaches recently shared their views about coaching and football with USA Football
Magazine. With 155 successful seasons of head coaching experience between them, here’s a two-minute drill inside their thoughts:

What is the most overrated aspect of football? One thing that should never change about football is …
“Measurables – height, weight and 40-time.” “Having a place for smart, tough, undersized players.”
– Ed Croson, Team USA Offensive Line; West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade H.S. – Frank Lenti, Team USA Offensive Line; Chicago Mount Carmel H.S.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? “Friday nights should always be reserved for high
“Keep it simple.” school football.”
– Jeremy Gold, Team USA Defensive Line; Ann Arbor (Mich.) Pioneer H.S. – Allen Wilson, Team USA Linebackers; Dallas Carter H.S.

“My college coach, Bill Mallory (Indiana What person influenced you the most?
University), told me when I first became a head “Celia Gold, my mother.”
coach, ‘All you need is a whistle and a watch; and don’t – Jeremy Gold, Team USA Defensive Line; Ann Arbor (Mich.) Pioneer H.S.
go out there trying to please everybody.’”
– Chris Merritt, Team USA Defensive Backs; Miami Christopher Columbus H.S. “My first coach – my father.”
– Chris Merritt, Team USA Defensive Backs; Miami Christopher Columbus H.S.
What is the hardest job in football?
“Explaining to parents why their son is not What is the most underrated aspect of football?
playing.” “Long snapping.”
– Gary Swenson, Team USA Offensive Coordinator; West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley H.S. – Steve Specht, Team USA Defensive Coordinator; Cincinnati St. Xavier H.S.

For more on this historic coaching staff leading America’s first national football team of teen-aged players, visit usafootball.com.

Walsh University selected as “International Village”

for IFAF Junior World Championship
By Chris Shepard

Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, will serve as the

residence and practice site for the national teams hailing from
eight countries competing in the 2009 International Federation of
American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship in Canton
from June 27-July 5.
“We are honored to welcome all attendees of the first IFAF
Junior World Championship to Walsh University,” said Walsh
University President Richard Jusseaume. “While we are excited to
have the opportunity to show off our beautiful campus, the most
significant result of this event will be the fostering of friendly
relationships among the eight international teams. The entire
Walsh community is proud to play a part in bringing this historic
event to our area.”
Just five miles north of Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame
Field at Fawcett Stadium, the host site for all 12 IFAF Junior World
Championship Games, Walsh University will serve as an “international village,” housing the tournament’s 360 players in five residence
halls.
“This summer’s tournament stands as one of the most significant international football events the game has ever seen,” said Bob
Belden, IFAF Junior World Championship host committee chairman and president of the Canton-based Belden Brick Company. “In
addition to the athletes’ and coaches’ friendships that will be forged here, they’ll also remember the first-rate facilities and hospitality
that will be shown them at Walsh University.”
Visit www.jwcfootball.com for ticket information and more about this summer’s historic IFAF Junior World Championship.

10 USA Football Magazine

08 JWC.indd 10 2/18/09 10:44:21 AM

 Gear Up for ’09 at USA Footb
all Shop is
open 24/ 7
at

USA Football Shop

shop.usafo
otball.com
.

Coaches’ and commissioners’ virtual shopping carts have been Included in the four-item Head Coach’s Pack ($85) is a USA
filling up with Coach’s Gift Packs at USA Football Shop Football men’s polo by Under Armour, the coaches handbook, an
(shop.usafootball.com) since the packages’ November release. instructional USA Football DVD of your choice and a coaching
“I bought a Coach’s Pack to get more information, I am always membership. An Assistant Coach’s Pack ($40) is comprised of a
looking for insight in any area high-performance USA Football men’s t-shirt by Under Armour, an
possible,” said Keith Wyman, instructional USA Football DVD of your choice
head coach of Attleboro (Mass.) and a coaching membership.
Pop Warner’s ‘A Team.’ “The whole “I think that the (coaches) handbook is
process of USA Football is great, something that every head coach should have to
being part of that helped me this help set up practices and such,” said Wyman.
past season as a head coach.” “The handbook breaks it all down, it helps
Since opening its doors in you immensely.”
October, USA Football Shop “I run a league, and I had a lot of
has already delivered goods to people who wanted to help, but needed
customers’ doorsteps in 46 states. some encouragement or guidance,” said
The shop is open 24 hours a day, Barry Gehab, President of the Perryton
stocked with USA Football-branded (Texas) Activity Center Football League. “The
Under Armour apparel, instructional DVDs featuring our own handbook and the rest of the coach’s pack made them feel more
Larry Canard (see page 14), the USA Football Coaches Handbook, comfortable with the kids.”
coaching memberships and more. Click inside shop.usafootball.com and see what’s in store for you.

Kurt Warner
Arizona Cardinals QB
USA Football recently reached Arizona Cardinals QB
Kurt Warner for recollections on his youth football coaches
and what message he would have for youth coaches today:

“I remember the coaches that I had

at an early age; they were volunteers
and made a huge impact on my life,
encouraging me to follow my dreams.
I didn’t feel the pressure of having
to perform, but they continually
encouraged me. It is a tremendous
opportunity to impact kids’ lives. Teach
them in a positive way and encourage
CHRIS KEANE / icon SMI

them to accomplish great things.”

11

11 Web Store.indd 11 2/18/09 10:44:35 AM

 Coaching center
School’s In
More than 10,000 to attend all-time high 48 USA Football
Coaching Schools in ’09
By Steve Alic
W
Coaching
hat happens 48 times a year,
provides lunch for more than
10,000 football coaches and helps
a youngster enjoy America’s favorite sport?
No, it’s not a weekly tailgate party, but it’s
nearly just as fun.
The answer: USA Football Coaching
Schools. And 2009 offers the strongest
Health & fitness
schedule in the football non-profit’s seven-
year history with 48 full-day clinics in 35
states from March through August. More
than two dozen NFL teams are USA Football
Coaching School partners to further advance
the youth game in their cities.
“These schools are vital to start coaches
off on the right track,” said Denver
Broncos Vice President of Community
Development Cindy Galloway. “Here in
league
Denver, it’s the only formalized way of
educating youth coaches.”
Designed exclusively for youth coaches,
the USA Football-run events feature expert
USA Football Coaching School Schedule*
officiating
Date Location
March 14 Charlotte, N.C. (Carolina Panthers)
March 21 Alexandria, Va. (Washington Redskins)
April 4 Raleigh, N.C. (Carolina Panthers)
April 18 Indianapolis (Indianapolis Colts)
April 18 Atlanta (Atlanta Falcons)
April 18 Baltimore (Baltimore Ravens)
April 18 Sacramento, Calif. (Granite Bay H.S.)
April 18 Des Moines, Iowa (Valley Southwoods Fr. H.S.)
April 25 Hampton, Va. (Bethel H.S.)
April 25 Miami (Miami Dolphins)
May 2 Ann Arbor, Mich. (Pioneer H.S.)
May 2 Orlando, Fla. (St. Cloud H.S.)
May 9 Middletown, Del. (Middletown H.S.)
May 9 Foxboro, Mass. (New England Patriots)
May 9 Columbus, Ohio (Upper Arlington H.S.)
May 9 Los Angeles (Notre Dame H.S.)
May 9 Omaha, Neb. (Univ. of Nebraska at Omaha)
May 16 Greenville, S.C. (Carolina Panthers)
12 USA Football Magazine
12 COACHING.indd 12
USA Football Coaching Schools
clinicians instructing how to teach every
position’s fundamentals, plan efficient
practices and run more effective schemes.
Between chalk talks and on-field
sessions, coaches are treated to a keynote
speaker and lunch. USA Football’s ’09
keynote roster includes Pro Football Hall
of Fame receiver and former Oakland
Raiders receivers coach Fred Biletnikoff
(Sacramento; April 18), Atlanta Falcons
head coach and 2008 NFL Coach of the
Year Mike Smith (Atlanta; April 18), and
four-time NFL All-Star linebacker Chris
Spielman (Columbus, Ohio; May 9).
May 16 San Francisco (San Francisco 49ers)
May 16 Chicago (Chicago Bears)
May 16 Minneapolis (Minnesota Vikings)
May 16 Nashville (Tennessee Titans)
May 30 Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh Steelers)
May 30 St. Louis (St. Louis Rams)
June 6 Philadelphia, Pa. (Philadelphia Eagles)
June 6 Tampa, Fla. (University of South Florida)
June 7 Green Bay, Wis. (Green Bay Packers)
June 13 Harrisburg, Pa. (Cumberland Valley H.S.)
June 13 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Westmoore H.S.)
*For the most up-to-date schedule, visit usafootball.com, roll to the blue “Coaches” tab, and click “Coaching Schools.”
0
20
2009 EVENTS
Schedule updates
at usafootball.com
“Meeting with coaches is important to
me,” said Spielman, who coached youth
football near Columbus, Ohio, for four years.
“We need to teach kids the right way to play
and make it fun for them.” Spielman’s late
father, Sonny, coached high school football in
the Canton, Ohio, area for decades.
“I want to pass along what I’ve learned
from my dad, Ohio State and the NFL,”
said Spielman. “Especially if you’ve never
coached football before, you’ve got to get to
one of these clinics.”
Coaching school attendees also receive
a high-performance USA Football Under
Armour Tee (a $24.99 value). The USA
Football Coaches Handbook, regularly
priced at $20, may be purchased for $10
at usafootball.com when registering for a
school online.
USA Football Coaching School registration
is found at usafootball.com. Roll to the blue
“Coaches” tab and click “Coaching Schools.”
June 20 Seattle (Seattle Seahawks)
June 20 Canton, Ohio (Walsh University)
June 27 Syracuse, N.Y. (Cortland State University)
June 27 Denver (Denver Broncos)
June 27 Honolulu, Hawaii (McKinley H.S.)
July 11 New Orleans (New Orleans Saints)
July 12 East Rutherford, N.J. (N.Y. Giants)
July 18 Houston (Houston Baptist University)
July 18 Kansas City (Kansas City Chiefs)
July 18 San Diego (Chaparral H.S.)
July 18 Alameda, Calif. (Oakland Raiders)
July 25 Phoenix (Arizona Cardinals)
June TBD San Diego (San Diego Chargers)
TBD Anaheim, Calif.
TBD Waco, Texas (Baylor University)
TBD Cleveland (Cleveland Browns)
TBD Jacksonville (Jacksonville Jaguars)
TBD Florham Park, N.J. (N.Y. Jets)
Aug. 1 Boise, Idaho (Optimist Youth Sports Complex)
2/18/09 10:45:09 AM
 quick-hitter grid
With members in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, USA Football recently caught up with four coaching members
from coast to coast. Below are their straight-ahead thoughts on topics from football to dinner guests.

Coach: Dave Brumfield Tom Sappington Mark Petersen Archie Roberts

Experience: 5 years 20 years 10 years 17 years
Team: Mt. Lebanon Jets Jones Middle School Cloverdale Chargers Scorpions / Ages 12-14
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Upper Arlington, Ohio Cloverdale, Calif. Fredericksburg, Va.

Favorite football Tony Dungy Jim Tressel Tom Landry Dan Reeves
coach – college
or pros:

Best football Army-Navy Ohio State-Michigan Cal-Stanford Redskins-Cowboys

rivalry:

Skill or value most Patience Patience Patience Patience

needed to coach:

Best thing about The kids always The relationships When everything To give something back
coaching: surprise me. They’re with the kids – I’ve clicks for players who and see the look on the
able to handle a lot seen kids grow up and struggle and they just kids’ faces when they
more than you think. go to college. light up. learn something.

How do you end your “Have fun!” “Let’s go out and have “Do your best” “Play like you practice”
pre-game pep-talk? fun!”

Favorite athlete Emmitt Smith John Brockington Larry Csonka Roger Staubach &
as a child: Tony Dorsett

Favorite vacation Disneyland Lauderdale by Red Woods of Orlando, Fla.

spot: the Sea, Fla. California

Three people President Winston Churchill, Roger Craig, Earl Campbell,

you’d like to have Obama, Jim Tressel, Jerry Rice, Bo Jackson,
over for dinner: Joe Paterno, B.B. King Bill Walsh President
Robin Williams Obama

USA Football offers resource-packed memberships to give coaches, officials and youth league commissioners an edge.
Learn more at www.usafootball.com/register. 13

12 COACHING.indd 13 2/18/09 10:45:27 AM

 Coaching center
Takeaway-Giveaway with Tom & Larry
Should you run a non-conventional
offense in youth football?
Coaching
Conventional football is best
for youth game
By Tom Bass
Youth coaches are given the unique opportunity to lay the
Health & fitness
groundwork for youngsters to learn and enjoy the football
experience.
Coaches at this stage have the
opportunity to establish and nurture a
love of the game in their players. This may
be their most important responsibility.
To create this atmosphere, coaches not
only need to prepare players in a positive,
enjoyable way, but they must also give
them tools to succeed as they progress in playing football.
league
This can best be done by employing conventional,
proven and established offensive, defensive and special
team schemes that require teaching basic skills and
techniques common to all schemes.
By focusing on these basics, the coach provides
all players with tools they will need at the next
level of competition.
It does not make much sense to me to have
officiating
a young offensive lineman devote a majority of
time learning pass protection skills and neglecting
the development of drive- and double-team blocking.
Unconventional schemes carry too much
specialization with great emphasis on a few players. This
doesn’t help the majority of youth players to fully develop.
The time and difficulty in mastering particular skills
needed to play unconventional schemes may discourage
youngsters from wanting to continue to play the game.
Employing unconventional schemes may bring a few
more wins, but they’ll come at the expense of teaching basic
techniques that well-rounded players will need as they progress
in the sport.
Tom Bass and Larry Canard combine for more than 50 seasons of coaching on the youth, college and NFL levels and illustrate that
there’s more than one way to teach America’s favorite sport. Both contribute to the innovative benefits included in USA Football’s
Coaching Membership. Go to usafootball.com today and click the “Membership” button in the upper right of your screen to join the USA
Football family and gain more from Tom & Larry.
14 USA Football Magazine
12 COACHING.indd 14
New-age offense is OK
By Larry Canard
A big part of being a successful football coach is understanding
two basic things: your strengths and your weaknesses.
This applies to almost every decision you make about your
team, including how you assemble your staff and what positions
you put your players in. The advent of the
“Wildcat” formation and the revival of the
historic single-wing provide coaches an
opportunity to maximize their players’ skills
and spread the football around. You do not
need a quarterback with a tremendous arm
or a running back with great speed or power.
It is important that coaches always teach
the game’s fundamentals. If players do not understand the
importance of a great stance and explosive start, executing
blocks and maintaining possession with ball-security
techniques, then no offensive scheme or approach
will f lourish.
These new schemes allow players of various
skills to be involved in the offense. Smaller,
quicker players can be put in situations that
encourage success by either spreading
the field or creating misdirection.
If you have a player with strong
quarterback skills, but doesn’t
have a tremendous passing arm,
the Wildcat pressures the defense
to defend the run and therefore
creates easier passing chances.
In the single-wing, all players must learn
to block. The backs must also understand how to carry
out fakes, which makes it an excellent offense for teaching
fundamental skills. Finally, defenses that face these offenses must
spend a great deal of practice time preparing for all of the options
that the schemes create.
2/18/09 10:45:37 AM
 What If?
USA Football Coaching Members share in-game
decision-making By Rashad Mulla and Chris Shepard
Mark Aho David Easley
City, State:
Blaine, Minn.
Youth League:
Twin Cities North
Suburban Youth
Football League
Coaching
Experience:
25 years
Base Offense: Wing-T
Base Defense: 4-4
USA Football Membership: Coach
F
ootball coaches encounter situations
that call for quick-thinking. Whether
you run the Wishbone or split your
receivers four-wide, part of football’s allure
is that there is more than one way to win
a game. Three USA football coaching
members recently shared their ideas on how
they’d tackle various in-game scenarios.
What If … you’re trailing 10-7 in
the fourth quarter with 2:00 remaining
without a time out. You have the ball on
the opponent’s 5-yard line and it’s fourth
and one. Do you kick a field goal or go for
a touchdown?
Aho: I coach third-grade and eighth-
grade teams. For the eighth-grade team, I
usually would kick the field goal – we have
a very good kicker and points are points. In
this scenario, it appears that the opposing
defense has been able to stop us. However,
with our holder and kicker, we have been
able to use an over-the-shoulder-flip trick
play similar to what LSU ran a few years
ago, that also may be an option.
We don’t kick field goals on the third-
grade level, so I would probably run the
Wishbone with a few extra backs, try to get
12 COACHING.indd 15
City, State:
Arlington, Texas
Youth League:
North Texas Pop
Warner Football; Ft.
Worth Colts
Coaching
Experience:
7 years
Base Offense: Power-T
Base Defense: 3-4
USA Football Membership: Coach
the power in and move the pile.
Easley: Well, luckily we don’t get
in this situation very much, we haven’t
lost a regular season game in two years.
It depends on the team I’m playing or
personnel I’m using. I have a tall, 6-2
receiver who I’m likely going to throw a
fade route to and go for the win.
Schrader: Go for the touchdown or
a first down. You have to go for it all, it’s
only one yard. You show confidence in
your team.
What If … you’re losing, 28-21, and are
in an obvious passing situation. When the
defense shows blitz, are you more likely
to max-protect or send everyone out on
routes? Which play do you find the most
successful when you choose one of these
formations?
Aho: I would probably blend it a little
bit and bring in two tight ends, but still
make sure I have my receivers going out. I
would run a tight end drag; bring the far
right guy across to the left, have the left guy
go to the right on a slant and have the tight
Mike Schrader
City, State:
Berlin, Wis.
Youth League:
Mid-State Football and
Cheerleading
Coaching
Experience:
8 years
Base Offense: Power-I
Base Defense: 5-3
USA Football Membership:
Coach & Commissioner
end run a drag. I would show the ability to
send everyone out and max-protect. Then I
would pray to God that the other team has no
awareness where the first down marker is.
Easley: I’m going to max-protect, but I’m
going to send my 6-2 receiver out and let him,
as he would say, “Moss him.” He can out-
jump anybody.
I’m going to put my quarterback in the
shotgun and bring all three of my backs
around, usually to the right side. I love the
Power-T because I always have a lead blocker.
Our quarterback has a great arm and I’m
going to have him try to get the ball to our
tall receiver.
Schrader: I would send everybody out,
I don’t like to max-protect too often. I would
say I’m more of a gambler. You can win big
that way.
I would run something fairly short across
the middle, a square-in or something like that.
It depends on how the game is going, sometimes
I might fake the “in” and go for the fly. But if
they blitz, the middle should be open.
Join the USA Football family with members
in all 50 states to help you reach your coaching
potential. Visit usafootball.com today.
15
2/18/09 10:45:49 AM
 Coaching center

For three coaches, “responsibility”

is the name of the game
USA Football Coaching Members Honored by Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports
Coaching

By Rashad Mulla

W
hile coaching youth football
for 29 seasons, John Solomon
of Brooklyn Park, Minn.,
continues to teach his players the
importance of dedication, hard work and
responsibility. Now he is one of three
Health & fitness
award. It’s about what I’m doing john solomon
out there with the kids.”
Reeves just finished his
fifth year as head coach of the
Northeast Kansas Football
League’s Topeka Wolverines, a

USA Football fourth-grade team.

Todd reeves
coaching “Life doesn’t
members being stop at fourth-
honored for grade football,”
these values. said Reeves, a USA
Solomon, Football coaching
Marcelo Weese member for nearly
of Falcon, Colo., a year. “We need to put “Coaching is a huge responsibility.”
and Todd Reeves building blocks in place for “Youth sport coaches are an integral
of Topeka, those kids who want to keep part of the fabric of our communities,” said
league

Kan., all earned playing high school football Lisa Paige, director of the Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual and beyond.” Responsible Sports Program. “Every day
Responsible Preparing the groundwork they translate lessons learned on the field,
Coaching to help young players succeed court or rink to important life lessons that
awards in later in life is why Reeves takes stay with athletes throughout their lives.
2008 for their his job on the field so seriously. At Liberty Mutual, we seek to recognize
commitment to responsibility in youth “The primary goal of any youth and celebrate these Responsible Coaches
athletics, both on and off the field. A total coach should be to teach the essential who are oftentimes the unsung heroes in
officiating

of 44 youth sports coaches earned the
national honor.
“This means an awful lot to me,” said
Solomon, head coach of the Brooklyn Park
(Minn.) Titans, a team of eighth-graders.
The coaches were selected by an
independent judging panel that reviewed
thousands of nominations, references and
coaching resume submissions. All three
coaches were humbled by their selections.
Parents and league volunteers nominated
them for award consideration.
“It makes me feel good that I was able
to do something that kids and parents
appreciated,” said Weese, assistant coach of
the Falcon Youth Football Club’s third and
fourth grade Hawks and a 16-year military
veteran. “For me, it’s not really about the
fundamentals of the game, to teach good their communities and in the lives of their
sportsmanship and to have fun,” he said. athletes.”
Earn $2,500 for Your Youth Football
League from Liberty Mutual!
The Responsible Sports Community Grants
are back! Youth football organizations across
the country will have an opportunity to earn
a $2,500 Community Grant through the
Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports program.
Parents, coaches, commissioners and
community supporters can come together to support their favorite league or club to try
to earn a $2,500 Responsible Sports Community Grant. It’s easy to get started. Go to
ResponsibleSports.com/football to learn more – the grant period closes on May 31.

16 USA Football Magazine

12 COACHING.indd 16 2/18/09 10:45:59 AM

 Art of the Catch: Help a
good receiver get better
By Dave McMahon

T
he foundation for a fundamental Boyles said. “Stance and start Matt Coultas of
as basic as catching the football are so important. Another thing Winchester, Ill., a USA
settles in far in advance of a ball we teach is that when you’re Football coaching member
being thrown, or even snapped. running your routes, keep your and head coach in the
The first thing a player must do eyes up. You see so many kids Western Illinois Valley
in order to make a reception is get looking at the ground instead of Conference Junior Football
comfortable at the line of scrimmage. looking up when they’re running League, also uses the “goal
“It starts with the stance,” said their routes. We want to look Marcus Boyles post” drill in practice.
Marcus Boyles, head coach at Wayne through the defensive back.” Coultas is a firm believer
County (Miss.) High School and the One drill that Boyles in teaching basic receiving
wide receivers coach for the 2009 USA implements finds the receiver techniques.
Football Junior National Team standing behind the goal “First off, we teach the
that will compete in the Junior post with his arms players to make a diamond
World Championship this around it. The coach with their hands, with their
summer in Canton, Ohio. then throws him the index fingers and thumb tips
“You have to get the kid ball with the goal with palms out, above the
in a comfortable post playing the Matt Coultas waist,” said Coultas. “For below
position, and that role of defender. the waist catches, put your
position varies “It forces them to pinky finger tips together with your
from kid to kid. get those arms out and palms up, and fingers slightly down.
You cannot be reach out for the ball,” When you catch the ball you want to
standing straight he said. “The more receive it, keep arms extended and bring
up, or you’ll get balls they can catch them in as the ball gets to you.”
a defensive back in practice, even if it’s While Boyles and Coultas use
walking up from a coach, the better off common drills to teach the art of
right into your they’re going to be. I really catching a football, some may employ
face. You want believe that you can never catch less conventional methods.
some bend in the too many balls in practice.” “I remember Jerry Rice talking about
stance, especially how his dad would toss bricks to him;
in the torso.” “I remember Jerry his dad was a mason and laid bricks,”
Boyles, who has said Brian Mitchell, a USA Football
Rice talking about how
16 years of high board member and possessor of 255
school coaching his dad would toss career NFL receptions (1990-2003).
experience and five bricks to him; his dad “Guys need to have confidence in the
state championships was a mason and laid strength of their hands. Too many guys
to his credit, bricks. Guys need to want to catch with the body.”
also requires his USA Football coaching members
receivers to use have confidence in may visit the Drills Library at
every fraction of the strength of their usafootball.com to view more than 100
a second to their hands.” computer-animated practice drills on
advantage. – Brian Mitchell, demand, complete with voice narration.
“We preach USA Football board More than a dozen drills are dedicated
no false steps,” member to receivers.

BRIAN MITCHELL 17

12 COACHING.indd 17 2/18/09 10:46:09 AM

 Health & fitness

What football has taught

my son: Melanie Duncan
By Nicole Lukosius
Coaching

S
ports have been a staple for approval of their parents, and as long as we encouraged
Texas Tech linebacker Brian them and motivated them, that’s what it took.
Duncan, but football has
always claimed the top spot. His What has football taught your son?
mother and father, Melanie and It has taught him togetherness, sportsmanship,
Mitchell, have seen him grow up compassion for others and humility. And that’s the
playing America’s favorite sport one thing that I always remind him – the key to
Health & fitness

with an undeniable passion that he Brian’s success is his humility and compassion for
still possesses today. others. He’s dedicated, and we taught him to not give
As a redshirt sophomore for up. He knows that it takes the whole
Brian and Melanie Duncan
the Red Raiders, who went 11-2 in team to make a difference.
2008, Duncan led the team with 89
tackles. Duncan’s exceptional play How have other aspects of Brian’s
was recognized in his being named All-Big life been positively affected by
12 Conference Honorable Mention. football?
The 6-1, 238-pound general business Who he is, the lessons that
major made the Academic All-Big 12 First he’s learned in life and the
league

Team as a redshirt freshman and regularly encouragement that he’s gotten

volunteers to help his community. from his family have made him
Along with incredible support from his Brian Duncan do well. He likes to satisfy, and
family, Duncan is influenced by the life lessons that helps him perform well on the
playing football provides. USA Football football team, and it makes him
Magazine recently spoke with Melanie perform well in academics. Football
Duncan to learn more about what football has taught her son. is an outlet, but I think more than that, Brian takes it serious. Some
people do things because they need to burn off some energy and
officiating

When did Brian start playing football? some steam, but he’s a very dedicated person, so it’s not just that.
He started out in a local rec team here in Baton Rouge, La. He
was 6 years old, and he’s been playing ever since. My husband Why is it important to him to be a role model for others?

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DUNCAN FAMILY AND TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

and I believed in giving our children every opportunity to make
something of themselves, and an opportunity presented itself to put
them into not just football but several different sports. We allowed
them to pick out what sports they wanted to go into once they got
out of the beginning stages, and football was Brian’s area. When he
made it to high school, he had the size and the experience to start
on the varsity team as a freshman. He started out as a lineman,
and as he grew in that position, he was able to move over to middle
linebacker and that became his natural position.
How did you stay involved in your son’s youth football experience?
We went to every game and participated in the games. My
husband was the assistant coach for awhile, and I was the coach of
the cheerleading team. We just made it a family thing. We just let our I just watch him, and knowing what his character is, it allows me
children know that we were very proud of them. Any child wants the
He’s been in church all of his life, so he’s got good biblical
principles about loving and giving. He puts his all into that. On a
job, the best employee is a person who loves their job. It’s the same
thing with this; he loves the people, he loves the community. It
doesn’t tire him out because he’s happy.
How does it make you feel to see all the success your son is
having, both on and off the field?
I am highly proud of him and how it makes me feel is
overwhelming sometimes because you know this is meant to be,
but actually seeing it come to pass can take an emotional toll on
you. It’s in a good way though, and I can’t say enough about how
proud I am of him, as well as all my children. He’s a true leader.
to feed inspiration back to him.

18 USA Football Magazine

18 HEALTHSAFETY.indd 18 2/18/09 10:46:35 AM

 USA Football Member Mailbag
USA Football’s non-profit office reached more than 1,000 of you – our valued members who power America’s favorite sport –
during our 2008 member survey. We learned what’s most important to you and how we can best continue to provide resources and
services to help you advance this game’s bright future.
We offered an open-ended question about being a part of the USA Football family and here’s what you told us:
“The best part of being a USA Football member is …”
“…being affiliated with a nationally recognized
association. Not only does USA Football provide me with
additional learning opportunities, but it also reassures
the parents of my players that I am certified and qualified
to coach their children.”
– Robert Vujaklija, Chardon (Ohio) Lions Football, Painesville, Ohio
“…that it’s for coaches who are
serious about helping develop
young football players.”
– Chad Ovitt, Canyon Hills (Calif.) Pop Warner, Anaheim, Calif.
“…the excellent information. As a first year football
coach, it really helped to give me the information I
needed to help my team become more successful.”
– Matt Pauliks, Brockton (Mass.) Junior Boxers, Brockton, Mass.
Strength & Conditioning: What’s best?
By Chris Shepard
S
trength and conditioning are two of the most
important items for any football player to
develop. Al Miller, former Atlanta Falcons
strength and conditioning coach, recently discussed
this topic with USA Football Magazine.
Miller expresses that strength and conditioning
for youth football players should be treated as
though they are moving through grade school. Al miller
“You wouldn’t expect a first grader to do algebra,”
said Miller, who recently contributed nearly an hour of insight
for usafootball.com’s upcoming “Film Room” feature for
coaching members. “You start a young player out with a less-
strenuous work load and you work him up to the tougher stuff
when he’s ready. Never rush a kid along too quickly – you will be
asking for an injury.”
18 HEALTHSAFETY.indd 19
“…the wealth of information that is literally at your
fingertips.”
– Robert Gibson, Greenwood Bantam Football League, Greenwood, Ind.
“…helping our youth develop into young adults
through the ultimate team sport.”
– Larry Leveranz, South Dakota Junior Football, Sioux Falls, S.D.
“…working with the member services
department; they always get back to me.”
– Greg Ballay, Pine Richland Youth Football, Gibsonia, Pa.
“…having a central point for all aspects of coaching. My
dealings with USA Football staffers have been fabulous and I
plan to get other local coaches using USA Football resources.”
– Boone Norris, Fort Morgan Youth Football, Fort Morgan, Colo.
Miller suggests that young players start an off-
season strength and conditioning program consisting
of Monday, Wednesday and Friday workouts. While
he feels there is no “cure all” exercise for everyone,
he strongly recommends that all players begin every
workout with a warm-up routine and end with cool-
down exercises, again to prevent injury.
“Everything that transpires in sports initiates with
ground movement,” Miller said. “If I’m coming out of
my stance, I push into the ground with my feet. The next thing is
how rapidly I can develop that force.”
Miller feels all players should focus on six components: 1) anaerobic
capacity, 2) body composition, 3) joint mobility, 4) core strength,
5) aerobic capacity and 6) strength endurance. He also recommends
that young athletes always work out with an adult present.
19
2/18/09 10:46:45 AM
 LEAgue Center
State Leadership Forums
unite youth football leaders
By Steve Alic

W
Coaching

ell-run youth leagues are will conduct a “People

critical for youngsters’ football record-number 38 who power
development. state forums this youth football
USA Football is committed to assisting year. The forum continually aim to
leagues with idea sharing, coaching schedule runs make their players’
education resources, a youth football-specific through April 4. experiences
rulebook, fundraising guidance, equipment “It was a real better and we
grants, financial assistance for league pleasure meeting work together to
Health & fitness

volunteer background checks and more.
These topics and others are central to
USA Football’s State Leadership Forums,
full-day meetings for league commissioners
throughout a state or region. In partnership
with NFL clubs, college football programs
and high schools, USA Football regional
managers personally invite more than 800
youth football commissioners to these
events annually. Every state forum is run
league
and talking with other
leagues,” said Alice
Langton-Sloan, commissioner of the
Vintage Empire Junior Football League,
which spans four Northern California
counties. Langton-Sloan was among the
25 youth football leaders who participated
in USA Football’s Northern California
State Forum at the San Francisco 49ers
practice facility in February. “This was our
accomplish that goal,”
said USA Football West
Regional Manager Bucky Brooks. “Football
leagues are like families. Few do things
the exact same way, but we all work to get
to the same place where players have fun,
gain team-first values and want to continue
playing the world’s greatest sport.”
If your league has not participated in a
state forum, but would like to, contact your

by one of USA Football’s seven regional second year participating in the forum and USA Football regional manager (pg. 21).

Photo: Joe Owens

managers, each of whom is experienced as we loved seeing how what we discussed Visit usafootball.com and roll to the green
a current or former coach, player or football last year has morphed into what was “Commissioners” tab for more youth league-
administrator. developed this year. I can hardly wait to see strengthening resources. USA Football’s
Independent non-profit USA Football what transforms for next year.” Commissioner membership is free!

State Forum Delegates Canton-Bound

officiating

Moses Webb may not have intercepted 71 passes in the NFL
like 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Rod Woodson,
but the duo does hold something in common – they’re both
bound for Canton, Ohio, this summer.
For the second-consecutive year, one
youth league commissioner from every
USA Football State Leadership Forum is
Webb was chosen to attend the NFL Youth Summit trip during
USA Football’s Virginia State Forum on Jan. 31. He is entering
his fourth season of service with the league of 400 players. “I plan
to bring back ideas for the betterment of our
organization,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll gain from
other folks who have been involved in youth
football much longer than I have.”
Photo Courtesy of Pro Football Hall of Fame

randomly selected to participate in the NFL
Youth Summit from July 29-30.
“I’m excited about this – it’s a great
opportunity,” said Webb, the deputy director
of football operations for the Northern Virginia Youth Athletic
Association, situated 30 miles west of Washington, D.C.
The NFL Youth Summit assembles approximately 200 youth
and high school coaches from all 50 states and the District
of Columbia. Youth league commissioners and former NFL
players now coaching at the high school level also take part.
Included in the two-day NFL Youth Summit
agenda is a USA Football National Forum
comprised of one delegate from all 38 USA
Football State Forums.
NFL Youth Summit discussion topics include character
development, the NFL’s ATLAS and ATHENA Anti-Steroid
Education Program, player hydration and fitness and role-playing
demonstrations regarding coach-player-parent relationships.
Stay tuned to usafootball.com in late July for NFL Youth
Summit news from Canton.

20 USA Football Magazine

20 LEAGUE.indd 20 2/18/09 10:47:10 AM

 USA Football Regional Managers
A merica’s favorite sport is powered by you – dedicated youth league commissioners, coaches, game
officials and volunteers. For each of you, there is a face and name to place in your football Rolodex:
your USA Football Regional Manager.
USA Football Regional Managers are current and former coaches, players and administrators working for you. Each has the experience
needed to help you make your league or team even stronger with USA Football’s resources.
Contact your USA Football Regional Manager to learn how you can kickoff your free commissioner membership or to ask about coaching
certification, the nearest USA Football Coaching School, Player Academy or Officiating School. Stay in touch with your regional manager,
whether it’s to share news about your league or team or to ask about member resources.
In addition, you may always contact our office, based outside of Washington, D.C., through usafootball.com or by phone at
1-877-5-FOOTBALL. Let us know how we can serve you better.
Together we’ll ensure that teamwork and leadership continue to serve as the laces binding our favorite game.

Northeast Region
Ed Passino
Northwest Region Great Lakes Region (703) 992-8246
Bassel Faltas Central Region Scott LeVeque epassino@usafootball.com
(571) 730-4816 Joe Owens (571) 730-4815
bfaltas@usafootball.com (571) 730-4822 sleveque@usafootball.com
jowens@usafootball.com

West Region Southeast Region

Bucky Brooks Rick Peacock
(818) 921-7616 (703) 992-8107
South & Mid-Atlantic rpeacock@usafootball.com
bbrooks@usafootball.com
Deno Campbell
(703) 992-8653
dcampbell@usafootball.com

21

20 LEAGUE.indd 21 2/18/09 10:47:23 AM

 LEAgue Center
Mississippi league nets
$14,000 in fundraiser
By Nicole Lukosius
Coaching

M
aking ends meet as a youth football organization can be a challenge at times, Executing a profitable fundraiser
so what is the best way to stretch financial resources? requires detailed preparation. Investing
According to Dwayne LeGrand of Biloxi, Miss., a well-run fundraiser time before launching a campaign will
is the way to go. As president of the St. Martin Youth Football increase your chance for success.
Association, LeGrand gave the BRAX Spirit Cups fundraiser a try LeGrand said the BRAX fundraiser
last season. The campaign was an overwhelming success and will has helped his organization rebuild from
be repeated in 2009. Hurricane Katrina. After some damage to
Health & fitness

“A lot of things haven’t worked – like cookie dough – and it was the equipment room, the St. Martin Youth
something totally new,” said LeGrand, a USA Football Administrators Football Association was in need of new
Advisory Committee member. “People were really excited about it.” gear last season.
The cups are sold in quantities of four and feature designs for “I had to purchase helmets because
Dwayne LeGrand
NFL and collegiate teams. LeGrand said the likeability of the every few years you have to refurbish
product is one reason why the fundraiser will continue – another them, so our fundraising was concentrated
is because the organization raised more than $14,000 last season. BRAX Spirit Cups is on equipment,” LeGrand said. “We also
the official fundraising partner of USA Football. had a few upgrades to do on facilities that
“The product is amazing, and everyone can relate to it,” LeGrand said. “Dealing with we helped contribute to.”
sports, it was very easy to sell, especially when people find out it’s for the kids.” Total commitment by the organization
league

will be the driving force in seeing results.

For LeGrand’s organization, these results
Keys for a successful fundraiser: have translated into better equipment,
improved facilities and more opportunities.
• Pick a fundraiser that is easy to understand and simple to implement. “The more money I can get in the
• Appoint a volunteer who has leadership and organizational skills. account means we can charge less for the
• Assemble a support committee to assist with the leader’s workload. registration fee,” LeGrand said. “It helps
• Set realistic organizational goals that can be broken down into individual goals. the parents, and it makes it a lot easier right
officiating

• Define exactly where the money will be spent. now with the economy. We can lower the
• Appoint one individual to be responsible for accounting elements. fee so we can have more kids playing.”
• Have a second individual to audit your numbers. Visit spiritcups.com and see how BRAX
• Communicate success to all involved with the campaign. Spirit Cups can raise cash for your league
this season.

Thank you, USA Football! Dear USA Football,

USA Football, with help from partners
Riddell and Under Armour, will award more
than $500,000 in equipment grants to hundreds
of youth, middle school and high school football
programs during the 2009-10 school year.
Equipment grant recipients from this past season
continue to send “thank you” letters to our non-
profit office. An excerpt of one such note is printed
here:
22 USA Football Magazine
Thank you so much for your generous donation of 22 football helmets to
Norman Wildcats Football. As you know, needy families and individuals
in our communit y are continuing to recover from the hurricanes of 2005.
While all of us are susceptible to hard times, children are most at risk. With
the generous support of USA Football, we will be able to help many of these
children look toward a brighter future with our football program, which
stresses education, good sportsmanship, fundamentals and respect for others.
Sincerely,
Mark V. Joseph
Head Coach, Norman Wildcats Football, New Orleans, La.

20 LEAGUE.indd 22 2/18/09 10:47:35 AM

 From leather
helmets to laptops
USA Football’s Coaching Education Goes Coast to Coast
By Steve Alic

L
eroy Hollins, Dave Skiljan and Ed
Sofo may never be mistaken for
George Halas, Woody Hayes or
Knute Rockne, but they’ve found a coaching
innovation that the three legends would’ve
loved – USA Football’s Certified Coaching
Education Program (CCEP).
USA Football members Hollins, Skiljan
and Sofo are among a growing number
of youth league commissioners
establishing standards and sharpening
their volunteer coaches’ skills
with USA Football’s exciting 3-D,
computer-animated online course.
“One of the biggest concerns we
faced with our previous coaching
Leroy Hollins
certification was a timing issue – it
could only be conducted in a classroom,”
said Hollins, director of the Louisiana Youth
Football League, comprised of more than
2,000 Baton Rouge-area youngsters and 352
coaches. “Because our coaches have regular
jobs, being able to take the course online gives USA Football’s CCEP. Many also require
them the freedom to complete it at their pace
wherever it’s convenient.”
The two-hour animated course instructs
how to teach football fundamentals and
incorporates coaching philosophy, practice
planning and communicating with youth
players and parents. At the cost of only $10
per coach, USA Football’s CCEP enables
league commissioners to track their coaches’
coursework progress, including scores on 11
quizzes with automatic grading. USA Football
has also built a re-certification test for CCEP
graduates to stay sharp the following season.  dads,” said Skiljan, president of the Great
Since September of 2008, independent
and Pop Warner leagues alike spanning
Dave Skiljan ed sofo
California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana,
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New
Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
South Dakota, Texas and Virginia now
require volunteer coaches to complete
USA Football coaching membership,
which includes coaching insurance, a 3-D
computer-animated library of 150 drills
with a new printer-friendly function, an
online practice planner, USA Football’s
“Click ’n Create” online playbook with
e-mail capability, a year-long USA Football
Magazine subscription and more. The all-
inclusive coaching membership is $25 per
coach, but is offered for $20 per coach if a
league registers 15 or more.
“Most coaches in our league are volunteer
Lakes Youth Football League which spans
nearly a dozen Cleveland suburbs. “Some have
coached or played football before and
some haven’t. Ultimately, our players
are the real winners because they’ll
have better prepared coaches.”
Roughly 480 miles of highway
east of Skiljan’s front door, Sofo,
Watchung Hills (N.J.) Junior
Warrior Football co-director,
has enlisted his coaches to take
CCEP Course Levels I and II, offering
greater sophistication and 26 additional
comprehension quizzes.
“As a volunteer organization, it is difficult
to find and train qualified coaches,” Sofo
said. “The CCEP guarantees a minimum
level of competence for all of our coaches. It
teaches them the fundamentals of football,
practice planning and most importantly,
how to treat kids fairly.”
For more about USA Football’s CCEP and
additional coaching resources, contact your
USA Football regional manager (see page 21).

E-reminder for E-quipment

Since 2006, USA Football has awarded more than $1 million in new football equipment to
approximately 600 youth and school-operated football programs spanning 45 states. Based on merit
and need, USA Football’s Grants Program in 2009 – with help from partners Riddell and Under Armour
– will award $500,000 worth of new shoulder pads, helmets and more to leagues and school teams.
Sign up at usafootball.com now to receive an automated e-mail – or “e-reminder” – informing you
of when the 2009 USA Football Grants application form is ready. Request an e-reminder by clicking on the “Equipment Grants” link
under the green “Commissioners” tab at usafootball.com.
The application will be up and running by late April and all equipment will be shipped in time for the 2009 season.

23

20 LEAGUE.indd 23 2/18/09 10:47:48 AM

 Officiating

20
USA Football expands
2009 EVENTS
Schedule updates
at usafootball.com

officiating training events

Schools and seminars include reviews of 2008’s unique plays
Coaching

By Tim Polzer

USA Football is expanding its role as
the country’s leading resource for youth
and high school football officiating by
dramatically expanding its schedule of
officiating schools and seminars in 2009.
“We had three events in 2008, and
Health & fitness
youth football officials across the country.
“USA Football really is the ticket now.
There’s nothing like it now, and the future
is huge for what USA Football is doing for
officials,” said David Grant, an officiating
member from Goleta, Calif. “There are
college football season, discuss their
mechanics, philosophy and rules
applications for all levels of officials.
USA Football Officiating Seminar
attendees will take part in a full-day
classroom clinic that includes breakout

we’re expanding to 19 in 2009,” USA
Football Director of Officiating Tony
Michalek said. “When we traveled the
country attending officiating clinics and
events, many organizations asked us to
expand our schedule. We were asked to
fill the void.”
Michalek, whose officiating experience
ranges from youth leagues to the NFL,
will join Big Ten referee and USA Football
league
so many guys new to officiating that
want to go to camps, and they’re either
not designed for beginners or they’re not
financially feasible.”
USA Football Officiating School
registrants will work scrimmages in five-
and seven-official crews, participate in film
review of those scrimmages and receive
valuable feedback from NFL and Division I
college officials.
sessions by position and topic. The seminars
also review mechanics, philosophy and
applications involved with some of the more
unique plays from 2008.
Michalek is excited to offer more
officials the opportunity to learn
fundamentals and techniques and the
chance to hone their skills.
“We’ve received such a positive
response from our past events, we’re very

Officiating Consultant Bill LeMonnier in Participants also will review unique happy to be able to reach more officials and
offering expert instruction to thousands of plays from the 2008 high school and areas of the country,” Michalek said.

Officiating Schools Officiating Seminars

Date Location Venue Date Location Venue
April 3-4 Phoenix, Ariz. Moon Valley High School April 25 Los Angeles, Calif. Santa Monica College
officiating

May 8-9 Miami, Fla. University of Miami
May 15-16 Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
May 16-17 Jacksonville, Fla. Sandalwood High School
May 3 Green Bay, Wis. Lambeau Field
May 16 Oakton, Va. Oakton High School
May 30 San Francisco, Calif. California High School
June 6 Pittsburgh, Pa. Pittsburgh Technical Institute
June 6 Seattle, Wash. Bellevue Community College
June 13 Wayne, N.J. Passaic County Tech
TBD St. Louis, Mo. St. Louis Rams Facility
TBD Buffalo, N.Y. St. John Fisher College
TBD Atlanta, Ga. TBD
TBD Baltimore, Md. TBD
photo courtesy of the miami dolphins

TBD Boston, Mass. TBD

USA Football Officiating Director Tony Michalek
TBD Charlotte, N.C. TBD
TBD Denver, Colo. TBD
TBD San Diego, Calif. TBD
For the most up-to-date USA Football Officiating Training Event
schedule, visit usafootball.com and click “Officiating Schools” under
the gray “Officials” tab.

24 USA Football Magazine

24 OFFICIATING.indd 24 2/18/09 10:48:28 AM

 Meet a USA Football Member
Pete Dardis By Chris Shepard
B
eing part of the USA Football family unites all of us who
are connected to America’s favorite sport. USA Football
Officiating Member Pete Dardis has called high school
football action in Northern California for more than 30 years.
A retired Bank of America executive,
Dardis recently spoke with USA Football
Magazine to discuss his officiating passion.
What interested you in becoming a
youth football official?
I started out trying to be a basketball
official. My high school basketball
coach was also a football official and he
suggested trying football when I registered
too late to become a basketball official. I
also played football in high school, so
I was familiar with the sport and it
intrigued me.
What do you value most about being a
football official?
The camaraderie and
Name: Pete Dardis
friendship. I’ve met a lot of
Resides: Petaluma, Calif.
nice people, many of them I
call friends. The fresh air and
USA Football Membership: Officiating
exercise are also great, but Position: Referee
nothing beats the friendships Official Since: 1974
you gain. Level: North Bay Officials Association (High School)
How did you learn about USA Football?
Through Tony Michalek.  I was working a college camp in
California and the head of the camp called to ask me to let Tony
run a 15-minute presentation about USA Football. I later ran
across him again in Denver and we became good friends. Tony
asked me to be part of his crew at a USA Football presentation
at the San Francisco 49ers’ training facility and I bought
USA Football’s LeMonnier Referees 50th AutoZone Liberty Bowl
USA Football Officiating Consultant and veteran Big Ten
Conference football official Bill LeMonnier
refereed the AutoZone Liberty Bowl this past
January. The matchup in Memphis was his 12th
college bowl game in 15 years as a Big Ten referee,
in which Kentucky defeated East Carolina, 25-19.
Since 1989, LeMonnier has refereed three
Fiesta Bowls, two Orange Bowls, two Holiday
Bowls, and has also called the Cotton, GMAC, Bill LeMonnier
24 OFFICIATING.indd 25
memberships for myself and 50 of my campers from my high
school camp.
How have you benefited from USA Football’s officiating
membership?
I benefited by encouraging the 50
people that I purchased a membership
for – as well as others – to take the time to
learn the mechanics and rules that USA
Football teaches and put it all together. 
What is your favorite football memory?
I worked several section
championships in the Oakland Coliseum
and I had my entire family in attendance.
It was quite an experience to officiate in
that stadium, and be mic’ed up over the
PA and everything.
What unanticipated benefits did you
gain by being a football
official?
It helped keep me in good
physical condition. I took
very few sick days in 35 years
of work. By calling games, I
learned about preparation,
knowing the rules and how to
communicate in the heat of a
moment. All of this helped me in my career.
What would you say to someone considering becoming an
official?
Officiating is a great avocation if you put it in perspective with
your family, work and life. I tell those around me, “Family first,
work second, football third.”
Independence, Liberty and Texas Bowls.
LeMonnier and USA Football Officiating Director and NFL Umpire
Tony Michalek author and oversee the non-profit’s officiating education
program. The tandem travels throughout the off-season to direct nearly 20
USA Football officiating training events for America’s 55,000 youth, high
school and college football officials serving roughly 4.2 million players.
LeMonnier’s AutoZone Liberty Bowl appointment by the NCAA
underscores that USA Football officiating members receive advice
from the best in the game.
25
2/18/09 10:48:47 AM
 Officiating

Tampa officials signal for

USA Football
Certified Officiating Education Program making a difference in Florida
Coaching

By Tim Polzer

U
SA Football’s online Certified Officiating Education
Program (COEP) is helping high school football officials
in Tampa, Fla., stay sharp and perform at a high level.
The West Coast Officials Association (WCOA) has enrolled its 150
game officials into the COEP with winning results.
Ben Heugel, WCOA vice president of football, recommended
Health & fitness
as an effective and convenient resource to integrate into the
association’s 10-hour training program.
“The program is an excellent home-study tool that allows
our guys to train at their own pace,” Heugel said. “It’s a detailed
training program that’s very simple to use. It allows our guys to
learn from demonstrations of plays and mechanics involved in

the COEP for his association after viewing a making the correct call. In most cases, our officials can
demonstration of its online qualities at a USA answer their own questions through the program.”
Football officiating camp. Michalek developed the COEP using insight
“We were attending a camp here in Tampa and expert analysis from more than 20 years
when we were introduced to the program,” of officiating experience that culminated at
Heugel said. “We were looking for a resource the NFL level and time spent at hundreds of
to help keep our officials up to date on officiating clinics across the country.
mechanics and rules, and we particularly “We took the mechanics and situations
liked the interactive elements of the [COEP]. we’ve developed through the years and built
After watching a demonstration of the online them into this program in order to help better
league

program, we were sold.”
USA Football’s COEP is a comprehensive
program covering officiating philosophy, rule
interpretations, mechanics, coordination and
signals. The COEP is the sport’s most advanced
3-D computer-animated online officiating training
course, authored by seven-year veteran NFL umpire and
USA Football Officiating Director Tony Michalek. Assisting
officiating
train football officials at the youth and high
school level,” Michalek said. “We have received
positive feedback from those associations who are
using the program to train new officials and update
experienced officials.”
Heugel said the WCOA is more than satisfied with
the training USA Football’s COEP provides.
“We’re very happy with the results we’ve seen,” Heugel said.

Michalek in writing the coursework is USA Football Officiating “I’m had nothing but positive responses from our officials and
Consultant Bill LeMonnier, a 15-year Big Ten referee with 12 bowl their experiences with the program.”
assignments to his credit. Visit usafootball.com for more information on the COEP and other
The WCOA purchased USA Football’s COEP for each official resources built exclusively for USA Football officiating members.

USA Football Member Mailbag
USA Football’s non-profit office reached
more than 1,000 of you – our valued members
who power America’s favorite sport – during our
2008 member survey. We learned what’s most
important to you and how we can best continue
to provide resources and services to help you
advance this game’s bright future.
We offered an open-ended question about
being a part of the USA Football family and here’s
what you told us:
“The best part of being a USA Football member is …”
“…usafootball.com – I use it every week before I go to work my game to review
video clips and review signals.”
– Laurie Jordan, Warrenville, Ill.
“…having a resource like this to help prepare
you during the season and keep you updated
during the off-season.”
– Pat Kelley, Ontario, Calif.
“…all of the resources the Web site offers – it has made me a much better
official. Plus, the video library is an invaluable resource that I use almost daily.”
– Michael Grelli, Gibbstown, N.J.

26 USA Football Magazine

24 OFFICIATING.indd 26 2/18/09 10:48:56 AM

 Meet a USA Football staffer

Nate Boudreaux Senior Manager, Marketing & Business Development

What are your primary duties for than 10 years and have been working
USA Football? youth tackle and high school games
I’ve served USA Football for the for the past six seasons. It’s a great
past three years and spend most of outlet for me. I enjoy being around
my time working with our sponsors. the kids and the game and it really
We aim to align ourselves with gets you close to the game – closer
companies that have a similar goal than you can ever be as a fan,
and mission as USA Football. All for sure. I already referee college
of our partners are dedicated to basketball and hope to get into the
making the sport even stronger. college football ranks next season.

What is your favorite part of the job?
I’ve been fortunate to have worked
Nate Boudreaux
in the sports world for the last 10
years, from minor league baseball to
Arena Football to the NFL’s Cleveland
Browns. Being around the business of
sports is something I truly enjoy. Although
USA Football is a non-profit organization,
there is still a business component to our
operations. But I especially enjoy knowing
that the time and effort we put into
developing our programs and resources
is truly making a difference for the people
who power this great game on youth and
high school levels.
What does football mean to you?
Growing up, I played a lot of pick-up
football games, but I really never got
involved with organized football until
college when I played flag. The flag game
suits my athletic ability. It’s made for
quarterbacks and receivers. I started
playing and officiating flag football in
college and have been doing so ever since.
Football is a game that really brings people
together. It has a special connection with
people that a lot of the other sports just
don’t seem to have. It’s no coincidence the
most watched television program every
year is the Super Bowl.
You officiate youth and high school
football as well. What interested you in
becoming a game official?
I got started with flag football in college
to make a few extra bucks and I became
hooked. I’ve officiated flag football for more
What are your goals for USA
Football in 2009?
To create as much awareness
in the corporate world for USA
Football and our junior national
team competing in the IFAF Junior
World Championship next summer.
What or who instilled your love for
football as a youngster?
I’ve always been a huge football fan and
started as a kid in New Orleans watching
the Saints in the early 1980s. Unfortunately
they weren’t that good at the time, but I
didn’t care. For me, Sundays were church
followed by football. I was glued to the TV
every Sunday at noon waiting for my Saints
to take the field. I guess some things never
change. Here I am some 20 years later, still
perched in front of the TV (or at a sports bar)
watching NFL football on Sundays.

Riddell & Under Armour Join USA Football

Two of the best names in the game have joined USA Football’s Both will equip USA Football’s national teams and be part of
roster. USA Football’s Grants Program (see
Exciting new partnerships with page 23) to further strengthen youth
Riddell and Under Armour lifts and school-based football programs
each organization’s profile within based on merit and need.
football’s passionate grassroots “Welcoming industry
community while bolstering USA Football training events and leaders like Riddell and Under
programs. This marks the first time that either Riddell or Under Armour into the USA Football family is a tremendous source
Armour have teamed up with a sport’s national governing body. of excitement,” said USA Football Executive Director Scott
Riddell is USA Football’s official helmet and protective Hallenbeck. “We’re proud to have our newest partners be part of
equipment partner while Under Armour is the official outfitter of our 12-month calendar of national events and initiatives to help
USA Football training events and national teams. make football’s future even brighter.”

27

27 Staffer.indd 27 2/18/09 10:49:21 AM

 Texas prep coach attends
Super Bowl XLIII as USA
Football & NFL guest
By Chris Shepard

K
ris Hogan, a USA Football
coaching member and head
coach of the Grapevine
(Texas) Faith Christian Lions, drew
national attention last Nov. 7 when
he asked half of his team’s fans to
cheer on and support the opposing
Gainesville State School Tornadoes.
Gainesville State is a maximum-
security technical high school whose
players are deemed chronically
delinquent or serious juvenile
offenders.
Hogan was invited to attend
Super Bowl XLIII as a guest of
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
and USA Football as a gesture of
appreciation for his uncommon show
of sportsmanship.
“We wanted to figure out the
best way to minister to these kids
and give them what they needed the
most,” Hogan said. “They needed
hope. The best way to do that was to
cheer them on by name.
“Their behavior, their conduct at
the game, their grades – those are Grapevine (Texas) Christian High School head football coach and USA Football coaching
all things that are commendable. We member Kris Hogan, right, speaks with long-time Dallas sports radio show host Norm
wanted to show that if you do the Hitzges of Sportsradio 1310 “The Ticket” along Super Bowl XLIII Radio Row in Tampa,
right thing, people will get behind Fla. Hitzges lauded Coach Hogan’s display of thoughtful sportsmanship as well as USA
you and you can do anything.” Football’s promotion of the game’s values.
After the game, the teams prayed
together at the 50-yard line and as “Coach Hogan understands the Hogan attended the game and
each Tornado player boarded the values of what football – and sports was interviewed to share his story
Gainesville bus, he received a burger, in general – are all about,” said USA of football values with national
fries and soda, a Bible and a letter Football Executive Director Scott media, including NFL Network,
of encouragement from a Faith Hallenbeck. “We’re proud to call him ESPN and NFL Sirius Satellite
Christian player. a coaching member.” Radio.

Photo: Steve Alic

28 USA Football Magazine

28 Hogan.indd 28 2/18/09 10:49:32 AM

 Meet a USA Football board Member

Bob Gardner
Chief Operating Officer
National Federation of State High School Associations

H
elping steer USA Football’s mission as the sport’s national governing body
on youth and amateur levels is its 18-member Board of Directors. The board
is composed of leaders throughout the football community who share a deep
appreciation for America’s favorite sport. This issue of USA Football Magazine introduces
you to USA Football Board Member Bob Gardner, chief operating officer for the National
Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), based in Indianapolis.

How did you gain a love for football?

My father coached at Rockport (Ind.) High School from 1953-59, and I started going
to games when I was very young. I went to the high school practices when I was in grade
school. I loved football from my earliest recollection.

What does football mean to the National Federation of State High School Associations?
It is very important to our member state associations. It is the most popular sport for
boys with over 1.1 million high school participants. The revenue generated from state USA Football and the NFHS are working
tournaments supports many programs in our states. together to roll out a fundamentals
training course for high school
What does football need in order to become more popular? coaches this year. How significant is
We need better injury surveillance in high schools. Then use that information to this and why?
develop equipment to lessen risk to the player. This course will become part of the
NFHS certification for high school
Where have you seen USA Football make its greatest strides during your tenure on coaches. It will provide the framework
the board? for teaching the fundamentals correctly
I am pleased with the education efforts to improve coaching. This effort is making a to enhance the student experience. It is a
difference that directly impacts the young people who participate in our youth programs. natural partnership.

USA Football’s board of directors

Ray Anderson Jon Butler Roger Goodell Keith Rucker
Exec. V.P., Football Operations Executive Director Commissioner Head Football Coach
National Football League Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. National Football League Cincinnati Mt. Healthy H.S.

Jason Belser Tom Cove Scott Hallenbeck Frank Sanchez

Senior Regional Director President & CEO Executive Director Vice President
NFL Players Association SGMA International USA Football Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Richard Berthelsen Carl Francis Jack Kemp Grant Teaff

Interim Executive Director
NFL Players Association
Joe Browne
Exec. V.P., Communications
& Public Affairs
National Football League
Director of Communications
NFL Players Association
Alexia Gallagher
Director, NFL Youth Football Dept.
National Football League
Bob Gardner
Chief Operating Officer
National Federation of State
High School Associations
Chairman, USA Football Executive Director
Former U.S. Congressman American Football
Coaches Association
Mark Meana
Chairman Deborah Yow
Fairfax County (Va.) Athletic Director
Youth Football League University of Maryland
Brian Mitchell
Former NFL Running Back
Program Host, Washington Redskins
Radio Network

29

29 Board.indd 29 2/18/09 10:49:51 AM

 Football facts,
stats & figures
USA Football continually conducts and uncovers research to share with you, our members. We speak with league commissioners, youth
coaches, game officials and parents to learn how America’s favorite sport can be even better. Every issue of USA Football Magazine shares
“Facts, Stats and Figures” related to football and the youth sports community.

Gridiron Grapevine
This past December, USA Football’s member services department reached
more than 1,000 of you – our members – to learn more about you and how we can
serve you better. Here is some of what you shared with us:

How did you learn about USA Football?

0 15%
15 30%
30 45%
45 60%
60

Through my youth football league

Through a “youth football” web search Football = Must-See TV

From a friend involved in youth sports
Through a link on another web site
From the newspaper, radio or TV
Chart 1
On what levels of football have you played?
0 22.5
Few events can rally Americans together and
bring shared experiences like football and the
2008 Nielsen television ratings back it up! The
country’s four most-viewed sporting events last
year were all NFL games. The only other telecast
to break the top five was the Summer Olympics
Opening Ceremony in August.
45%
45.0 67.5 90%
90.0

America’s top-five most-watched TV sporting

High School events of 2008:
Youth Tackle
Pick-Up 41.3 rating
Adult Flag
Super Bowl XLII (Giants-Patriots)
College
Feb. 3
Youth Flag
Semi-Pro
Professional
29.0
NFC Championship Game (Giants-Packers)
Jan. 20
What youth sports do your children play?
0 22.5 45%
45.0 67.5 90%
90.0
25.7
AFC Championship Game (Chargers-Patriots)
Jan. 20
Tackle Football

Baseball
23.6
NFC Divisional Playoff: Giants-Cowboys
Basketball Jan. 13
Soccer
18.8
Flag Football Opening Ceremony,
Beijing Summer Olympics
Source: 2008 USA Football member survey Aug. 8

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 What Football Taught Me
Father Kevin Fimian, St. Timothy Parish, Chantilly, Va.
As Told To steve alic

Responsibility and teamwork are
inherent football values, woven in a game
rich in excitement, strategy and desire.
Football values are not handed to you.
These strong character qualities develop in
those who make the commitment to be part
of something larger than one’s self. This is
America’s favorite sport because of what
it gives us, what it teaches us and what we
become by virtue of the experience.
In the past year, USA Football Magazine
has illustrated the game’s influence on a retired
U.S. Congressman, a CEO, a college professor
and a sergeant in the U.S. Army. This issue
shares what football taught Father Kevin
Fimian of St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly, Va.,
15 miles west of Washington, D.C.
The son of a long-time Virginia high
school football, baseball and basketball
official, Fr. Fimian was an accomplished
prep athlete as a running back and a
Virginia state champion wrestler, which led
to a full scholarship to the Virginia Military
Institute (VMI).
From St. Timothy’s rectory in Northern
Virginia, Fr. Fimian recently spoke with USA
Football to share what football taught him.

G
rowing up in Virginia Beach, freshman running back that year that was
I played football from when extremely gifted and went on to star at Penn
I was eight years old through State and the NFL – that freshman was D.J.
high school. I started as a lineman. Dozier [Editor’s Note: Dozier became the
My older brother, Keith, was a terrific first player to lead Penn State in rushing
athlete – he went on to be a starting for four consecutive seasons and helped
running back and captain at William & the Nittany Lions earn the 1986 National
Mary. Based on his success, my coaches Championship]. D.J. was the reason why I
looked at me and said, ‘Well, let’s give moved from running back to fullback. Aside
Fimian the ball and see if he can run.’ from being a great player, he was a great guy.
So, I became a running back. It was difficult going from being “The
After my sophomore year in high Man” to a blocking fullback, but it was no
school, I transferred to Kempsville High Fr. Kevin Fimian of St. Timothy Parish in Chantilly, Va., a former accident – it was part of God’s will. I had
high school fullback and team captain, embodies football values
(10 miles west of Virginia Beach), which in leading his parishioners to daylight seven days a week. to take on a different role and I embraced
was a much bigger school than where it. We advanced to the playoffs my senior
I had been. I continued to play football and had just won a state year, were district champs and lost to Hampton (Va.) High School,
championship in wrestling as a sophomore. My name was mentioned which eventually won the state championship that season (1980).
in a preseason article that I’d likely be the starting running back that Everything I’ve been given – including what I’ve learned about
fall. Well, my soon-to-be classmates would now expect me to be a life through football – has been given by God. And sometimes
significant part of the team. That motivated me to train. those gifts are brought out through trial, in suffering.
I really worked hard. I was a lifeguard at the beach that summer At VMI, there’s a saying, ‘You may be whatever you resolve to
and I’d get there early to run, sprint and cut on the sand to build be.’ We have goals. The ultimate goal is eternal life attained by
up my legs and balance. Kempsville’s program had been down Christ through his suffering, death, and resurrection. And I believe
for awhile, but that season, we reached .500. However, in our last in others – that they can overcome anything – because I believe in
game of the year, I hyper-extended my knee on a carry and needed God and the power of prayer. I’ve seen what it has done in my life.
surgery. I was told that I wouldn’t play again. At the time, it seemed that my injury was the worst thing that
Despite not knowing if I’d be able to play my senior season, my could have happened to me, but who knows where I’d be if that
teammates voted me in as a captain. hadn’t happened? I love where I am and being the man God called
God gives us challenges. Overcoming the injury by working me to be. I see miracles every day. I couldn’t be happier doing what
hard at rehab, along with an irascible desire to get back on the field, I’m doing and will always be grateful for what God has given me
was formative in my personality. I knew that I couldn’t only put through the great game of football.
faith in myself. Each issue of USA Football Magazine reveals what America’s
Character is forged in the fire. When the team voted me a captain, favorite sport has taught accomplished individuals in a variety of
I had to come back – I didn’t have a choice – I couldn’t let them down. vocations. These football accounts illustrate how today’s players
I made it back and played as a senior, but I had lost a step. We had a become tomorrow’s leaders.

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