ISSUE 16 contents FEB.

2011

Kickoff players center health & safety

with USA Football
Executive Director USA Football Player Academies Offseason drills to help build
Scott Hallenbeck are accepting registrations agility
PAGE 4 PAGE 14 PAGE 24

commissioner center

Reginald Smith: What football

has taught my daughter
PAGE 15 Budget decisions can free up
extra dollars
Making the jump to fresman
PAGE 26
football
PAGE 16
features
coaching center
USA Football’s League
Quickhitter Grid
Affiliation unites PAGE 17
commissioners, coaches,
USA Football takes next step in Come share your ideas at
players and parents coaching development USA Football’s state forums
PAGE 6
PAGE 18 PAGE 27
Team USA vs. The World Coaching Schools have you USA Football Regional Managers
kicks off in Austin covered PAGE 28
PAGE 8 PAGE 19 Football fundraisers that score
Art of the long snap PAGE 29
Age-based curriculum follows
PAGE 20
players through growth and A solid foundation is best tool to
Takeaway-Giveaway with Larry expand player base
development
PAGE 13 & David: What to do in the red PAGE 30
zone?
usafootball.com looking good, PAGE 22 officiating center
offering more Meet a Member: Walt Lodes Jr. Primary focus needs to change
PAGE 13 PAGE 23 with the game
PAGE 31

3 & Out: Football Meet a USA What Football

Darren Facts, Stats Football Board Taught Me:
Allman & Figures Member Joe Guyaux
PAGE 12 PAGE 32 PAGE 33 PAGE 34
kickoff

Dear Readers,
The anticipation and energy surrounding a game’s opening kickoff or its
first snap quickens our pulse.
That feeling of excitement is shared by all of
us as our 2011 event schedule, National Team
program and League Affiliation membership run
out of the proverbial locker room to start the usafootball.com
new year.
League Affiliation membership already is Executive Director
SCOTT HALLENBECK
welcomed by youth leagues across the country
as USA Football’s greatest innovation in our
nine-year history of serving you. For the first USA FOOTBALL
time, every member of a youth football league EDITORIAL STAFF
– commissioners, coaches and players – can
obtain the power of USA Football’s teaching and Managing Editor
learning resources at $5 for 12 months. Turn JOE FROLLO
to pages 6-7 for more and connect with your USA Football Regional Manager Contributors:
STEVE ALIC, BASSEL FALTAS,
(page 28) to plug in to the official football development partner of the NFL and NICK INZERELLO, AISHA JOHNSON,
the NFL Players Association. MEGAN MOYER, EMILY NEWELL,
ANNE PANKHURST, TIM POLZER
Athletes, coaches, youth league commissioners and club presidents
already have begun registering for and attending our 80-plus football
To contact USA Football: 
development events. Player academies for athletes age 7-14, coaching (877) 5-FOOTBALL
schools, state forums – all are happening from coast to coast.
In addition to these headlines, this issue of USA Football Magazine covers a
range of news, including:
• A view of USA Football’s Player Progression Development Model to best TRACTION MEDIA STAFF
teach, learn and enjoy the game;
Publisher
• Direction from a pair of winning high school head coaches on preparing RUDY J. KLANCNIK
for high school freshman football; Editorial Director
• Dueling viewpoints from two of our coaching experts on how to score TIM POLZER

in the Red Zone; Designer

WILLIAM BRIDGEFORTH
• Insight and advice from one of the NFL’s top long snappers;
• Fundraising ideas that can help your league, club or team score at the Traction Media
bottom line. Editorial Offices
7115 Tartan Trl.
As always, you’re a toll-free call (877-5-FOOTBALL) or a mouse click away
Garland, TX 75044
(usafootball.com) from our member services department, located in the heart Tractionmedia@aol.com
of Downtown Indianapolis.
Thank you for all you do to power this game. I hope to see you on a football Editorial Department Phone
(972) 896-8006
field soon.
Custom Publishing
(972) 898-8585

USA Football Magazine is published by

We want to hear your thoughts
about USA Football Magazine. Write to us
at magazine@usafootball.com today.
Scott Hallenbeck
USA Football Executive Director
Traction Media, LLC©. All rights reserved.
Traction Media 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.

4 USA Football Magazine

 A new approach
to an old idea
USA Football’s League Affiliation unites commissioners, coaches, players and parents
BY JOE FROLLO

T
he idea seems simple to Chris Spangler – bring all
members of the youth football community under
the same umbrella.
Through USA Football’s new membership option called
League Affiliation, commissioners, coaches, players
and parents can come together at one website to enjoy
benefits for the entire league.
Spangler is the director of football operations at Morris
Cohen Junior Football in Moorsville, Ind., located 15 minutes
south of Indianapolis. From the age-appropriate instruction
to the coaches and officials education to the opportunity
for coach-player interaction on individual team pages,
Spangler said League Affiliation makes it easy for league
leaders to do their jobs.

6 USA Football Magazine

 “Breaking it down the way USA Football has makes it so Sacramento said League Affiliation provides the tools to teach
simple,” said Spangler, whose league represents about 500 his league’s coaches and offers common ground for all.
players in tackle and flag from first through sixth grade. “Everyone has the same goals and the same core
“The league president can track everything and be right values,” said Grams, a USA Football member whose league
there to see what everyone is doing. This is going to be a includes 1,900 players. “It also gives us expert advice
great tool.” to turn to whenever there are questions. Most of my
League Affiliation will help leagues across the country experience in coaching is at the high school level. USA
ensure that every member of the youth football community Football can help guide me in the right direction for all
enjoys a positive experience within America’s favorite levels of youth football.”
sport. To become a League Affiliation member, a league must:
As the official youth football development partner of • register each of its players and coaches for $5 each;
the NFL and NFL Players Association, USA Football offers • ensure that every coach (head and assistant)
innovative coaching completes the
education and player standard tackle
development resources certification course or
while uniting coaches, recertification quiz.
players and parents Spangler said his
on specifically tailored league is debating
web pages to exchange whether to work the $5
practice schedules, plays, membership fee into
game film, photos and the registration fee or
Through USA Football’s new membership option called League Affiliation,
fundraising information. absorb it as a league.
commissioners, coaches, players and parents can come together at one
Through myCOACH’S Leagues that signed
website to enjoy benefits for the entire league. Below is a scene from a video
and myPLAYER’S pages up in 2010 to have
coming to usafootball.com that helps explain PPDM.
set to launch in March on their coaches be USA
usafootball.com, coaches Football members paid
can upload film or post $20 per coach, so the
drills ahead of time so final cost of paying $5
players know what to for everybody is offset
expect and learn on their by what was paid for
own time away from coaching membership.
the practice field. The Some leagues are
USA Football Film Room considering using
Library shows techniques money from fundraisers
by position and age to pay the league wide
level, while an exclusive membership. Others
NFL Films Video Library are asking coaches to
showcases the game’s fundamentals at the highest level. collect the $5 from each player on the first day of practice.
A detailed league operations guide is included and offers “For what you are getting, the money isn’t much,”
a compilation of best practices, and the commissioner Spangler said. “Coaches can get on and show the kids
dashboard allows administrators to manage their league, exactly what they want them to do through the drills and
including everything from registration to schedules to the videos. This way, the players know what’s expected
coaching education. of them, and it will save so much time at each practice,
USA Football’s Player Progression Development Model allowing you to start the process even quicker.”
(PPDM) – a first for football – introduces age-specific Grams’ league operates a Coaching School with USA
techniques and skills for players to master based on their Football, and his Granite Bay Junior Grizzlies already are
physical and cognitive maturity as they develop through the employing much of what USA Football offers.
sport. Through League Affiliation, USA Football will deliver PPDM League Affiliation would open that line of communication
content to an entire league’s roster with the click of a button. even wider.
“We’re very excited about kicking off League Affiliation,” “We were looking for a way to share the beliefs that we
USA Football Membership Director Gary Del Vecchio had,” he said. “Nobody was saying the same things until we
said. “We have discussed this leaguewide membership found USA Football.
offering with youth league commissioners nationwide in “If you believe that it is a league’s mission to get as
an effort to meet their needs, and the feedback has been many people to play football as possible, if you believe in
overwhelmingly positive.” teaching the fundamentals and doing it the right way, then
Phil Grams of Sierra Valley USA Football and Cheer in Greater USA Football is for you.”

USA Football Magazine 7

Team USA vs. The World
kicks off in Austin
Passion for football extends beyond America’s boundaries
BY JOE FROLLO

T
he world’s football community descends on Coaches Association meeting and have remained in
Austin, Texas, on Feb. 2 for USA Football’s second touch from their homes across the nation.
annual Team USA vs. The World game. The “The coaching staff and roster have come together
competition matches 45 of the best U.S. high school very well,” Allman said. “There is a great deal of talent
seniors against athletes from and experience, and it will be
four continents representing fun to bring it all together for a
the rest of the International single cause.”
Federation of American Football. The World team is led by
Led by Austin Westlake High University of Western Ontario
School head coach Darren head coach Greg Marshall. IFAF
Allman, the U.S. Under-19 President Tommy Wiking said
National Team is looking to this game is important to the
extend its unbeaten record in international football community
international competition. as America’s favorite sport
“This game in itself is unique,” grows across the world.
Allman said. “But I am also “The World Team is part of a
looking forward to working bigger picture that will increase
with coaches and players from the standard of the game
around the country. It will be a outside of the United States,”
great learning experience for Wiking said.
everyone involved.” The game also is an
The U.S. beat the World, 17-0, opportunity for players and
last year in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. coaches to build relationships
Team USA also won three games with people who speak different
HEAD COACH DARREN ALLMAN
without a loss en route to a gold languages but share the same
JOHN C. JACOBS/TSS PHOTOGRAPHY

medal in the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship in
Canton, Ohio.
Allman has five days with his players, but the coaches
have been preparing for the past month. They gathered
in Dallas in January during the American Football
pride and enthusiasm for football.
“The passion for this sport in Central Texas is deep and
generational,” USA Football Chairman Carl Peterson said.
“Whether a player is from Seattle or Stockholm, he’s going
to love playing in this atmosphere in front of these fans.”

8 USA Football Magazine

Team USA Roster

#1 H CB #2 H WR #3 H WR #4 H RB #5 H LB #6 H S #7 H DE #8 H WR
Jabriel Ty George Aaron Anthony Avery Stephon Hakeem
Washington Montgomery Atkinson Green Sarao Walls Tuitt Flowers
HT: 5-11 WT: 165 HT: 6-0 WT: 202 HT: 6-1 WT: 194 HT: 5-11 WT: 191 HT: 6-1 WT: 215 HT: 5-11 WT: 185 HT: 6-5 WT: 260 HT: 6-2 WT: 173
Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown:
Jackson, Tenn. Dallas, Texas Livermore, Calif. San Antonio, Texas Absecon, N.J. McDonough, Ga. Monroe, Ga. Taylors, S.C.

#9 H WR #10 H QB #11 H WR #12 H QB #13 H LB #15 H QB #17 H LB #20 H CB

Tacoi Kevin Conner Cody Ryan Kiehl Manoa Josh
Sumler Hogan Floyd Keith Simmons Frazier Pikula Turner
HT: 5-8 WT: 170 HT: 6-4 WT: 205 HT: 6-1 WT: 200 HT: 6-5 WT: 195 HT: 6-3 WT: 230 HT: 6-3 WT: 212 HT: 6-1 WT: 220 HT: 6-1 WT: 175
Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown:
Miami, Fla. Washington, D.C. Austin, Tex. Cheshire, Conn. Cibolo, Tex. Springdale, Ark. Bingham, Utah Oklahoma City, Okla.

#21 H LB #22 H S #24 H DB #28 H RB #32 H RB #34 H RB #36 H WR #40 H DT

Tyler Ronald Wayne Savon Joe Kenny Devon Kevin
Wright Tanner Lyons Huggins Bergeron Williams Cajuste McReynolds
HT: 6-4 WT: 200 HT: 6-1 WT: 190 HT: 6-0 WT: 185 HT: 6-0 WT: 190 HT: 6-1 WT: 215 HT: 5-10 WT: 206 HT: 6-4 WT: 225 HT: 6-2 WT: 281
Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown:
Granbury, Tex. Columbus, Ohio Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Jersey City, N.J. Mesquite, Texas Pflugerville, Texas Flushing, N.Y. Washington, D.C.

#41 H DE #43 H CB #44 H LB #45 H LB #54 H LB #55 H OL #56 H OL #63 H OL

Jesse Josh Graham Nick Anthony Bobby Matt Michael
Hayes Atkinson Stewart Lifka HT: 6-2 Rabasa Thompson Freeman Bennett
HT: 6-4 WT: 230 HT: 6-0 WT: 185 HT: 6-1 WT: 216 WT: 240 HT: 6-3 WT: 220 HT: 6-7 WT: 285 HT: 6-1 WT: 255 HT: 6-3 WT: 275
Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown:
Cincinnati, Ohio Livermore, Calif. Middletown, Conn. Naperville, Ill. Miami, Fla. Midland, Tex. Abilene, Tex. Centerville, Ohio

10 USA Football Magazine

 Coaches

#65 H OL #72 H OL #73 H OL #74 H OL

Jarrett Chris Kiaro Matt Darren Allman Chris Merritt Brandon Faircloth
Wofford Head Coach Defensive Offensive
Hudson Merlene Holts
HT: 6-7 WT: 320 High School: coordinator coordinator
HT: 6-5 WT: 260 HT: 6-3 WT: 330 HT: 6-5 WT: 270
Austin (Texas) High School: High School:
Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Westlake. Miami Christopher Port Neches-Groves
Cedar Park, Tex. Flower Mound, Tex. Indianapolis, Ind. Cedar Park, Texas
Columbus (Texas)

#75 H OL #76 H OL #77 H OL #80 H WR

Matt Hunter Jamelle Jaxon Kevin Carty Glen Jones Mike Muschamp
Hegarty Goodwin Naff Shipley Receivers Tight ends Running backs
HT: 6-5 WT: 265 HT: 6-5 WT: 280 HT: 6-4 WT: 310 HT: 6-0 WT: 170 High School: High School: High School:
Bound Brook (N.J.) Brady (Texas) Atlanta Lovett
Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown:
Aztec, N.M. Baltimore, MD Del City, Okla. Brownwood, Tex.

#88 H TE #89 H K-P #90 H DE #92 H DT

Jack Will Taniela Kris Jeff Rhoads Ted Willmann Aaron Brady
Konopka Monday Tupou Harley Receivers Offensive line Defensive
HT: 6-5 WT: 262 HT: 6-3 WT: 180 HT: 6-2 WT: 260 HT: 6-2 WT: 265 High School: High School: tackles
Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Hometown: Austin (Texas) Austin (Texas) High School:
Palatine, Ill. Flowery Branch, Mill Creek, Wash. Indianapolis, Ind. Westlake Westlake Washington (D.C.)
Ga. Gonzaga

Danny Servance Dave Peck Matt Anastasio Scotty Pugh

Defensive ends Inside Outside Cornerbacks
Read all about the High School: linebackers linebackers/ High School:
2011 Team USA vs. The World Game at: Lubbock (Texas) High School: special teams Granbury (Texas)
Estacado Bingham (Utah) High School:
www.usavworld.com and www.usafootball.com Austin (Texas)
Westlake
USA Football Magazine 11
 3 & Out
Austin (Texas) Westlake High School football coach Darren Allman is
preparing USA Football’s Under-19 National Team for the second annual
Team USA vs. The World game on Feb. 2 in Austin. Allman, who led the
Chaparrals to the 2009 Texas Class 5-A state finals, recently discussed
the game and what it means to represent his country:

USA FB: Why did you accept the opportunity to be part of the U.S.
Under-19 National Team staff?
ALLMAN: I intend to help USA Football promote the greatest game ever
played to the young men in Texas and the United States. The experience DARREN ALLMAN
of working with players and coaches from other parts of the country and
competing against others from foreign countries will be a once in a lifetime experience. It will be an honor to
represent the USA in competition.
USA FB: What have you learned about international competition in American football?
ALLMAN: Football is becoming very important to people outside of the US. They are excited about
opportunities to compete against some of America’s top players, and they will be playing to win.
USA FB: What do you hope fans, players and coaches take out of this game?

TSS PHOTOGRAPHY / JOHN C. JACOBS

ALLMAN: Football is very special to people in the United States. Coaches and players pour a great deal of
time, effort and emotion into winning. The fans will enjoy recognizing that this is not an all-star game but
instead a game that both teams strongly want to win.
– Joe Frollo

12 USA Football Magazine

PPDM at center of all that USA Football does
Age-based curriculum follows players through growth and development BY JOE FROLLO

Y
ou wouldn’t teach a second-
grader algebra. In the same way,
football instruction should be
delivered in a manner that matches a
player’s comprehension.
USA Football has developed a
Player Progression Development
Model, and PPDM will be at the
heart of everything USA Football
does in 2011. Most important are the
continuing coach education programs
and age-appropriate courses. Player
Academies, Coaching Schools, a
web site redesign, coach and player
membership resources – all that and
more are being driven by age-based
curriculum that helps youth football
coaches do their job better.
“Coaching players of different
ages takes various approaches and
techniques,” USA Football Director of
Football Development Nick Inzerello
said. “PPDM will help coaches feel
more confident in teaching players to
perform at their best.”
PPDM helps coaches assist young
athletes as they progress while
also providing a positive playing
experience. The model incorporates
research on physical, mental,
emotional and social factors.
Age groups are identified at
Under-6 (flag), U-8, U-10, U-12 and
U-14, with PPDM providing guidance
on everything from the volume and
frequency of practices to the skill
sets players can start developing and
establishing a foundation of skills and
progress by age. PPDM identifies what
is physically and mentally appropriate
for coaches to teach based on an
athlete’s maturity level.
“The goal is for PPDM to increase the
likelihood that players reach their full
potential in the sport,” Inzerello said.

usafootball.com
looking good,
offering more
BY JOE FROLLO

W
ith all the new and exciting innovations
coming to USA Football – League Affiliation,
the Player Progression Development Model,
league websites – it’s only fitting that usafootball.com
gets a makeover, too.
Visitors to USA Football’s web site will see more than
a new look, however, when the site relaunches in March.
So much more will be available for commissioners,
coaches, players and parents to help make youth
football even better.
Along with great stories, the Drills Library, Film Room,
Practice Planner and all the things USA Football members
have come to enjoy, usafootball.com will become a one-
stop shop for everything your league needs.
The myCOACH’S and myPLAYER’S pages – a social fans up to date with the latest information and breaking
network designed for the needs of each team – provide news. And fundraisers got even easier as leagues can
a single link for a team to come together away from the set up their own store at Zazzle.com, complete with your
field. A video library will constantly be updated with teams’ logos and personalized gifts.
not only the latest in football education but history, Check out usafootball.com every day for what’s going
personalities and football fun as well. on in the youth football world, and see how it makes
USA Football’s Twitter feeds – The Pulse – will keep America’s favorite sport even more fun to play and coach.
USA Football Magazine 13
 players center

USA Football Player Academies

are accepting registrations
Player Progression Development Model to be used at 10 sites across the country
BY JOE FROLLO

b
ecome a better student of the game and have fun
by taking part in one of the 10 USA Football Player
Academies in 2011.
A developmental youth football experience to help
players master the game’s fundamentals, Player
Academies employ USA Football’s Player Progression
Development Model that focuses on age-appropriate
training along with position-specific instruction.
Young athletes will be prepared for next season as
well as have a great time. USA Football is the official
youth football development partner of the NFL and the
NFL Players Association.
Player Academies include both on-field drills and
classroom instruction from an area’s top youth and high
Classroom instruction reinforces lessons learned on the field at
school coaches.
USA Football Player Academies.
Registration is now open at 10 sites:
• Fair Oaks (Calif.) Del Campo High School, June 20-23.
• Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter High School, June 20-23 • Escondido (Calif.) Calvin Christian School, June 27-30
• Austin (Texas) St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, June • The Denver Broncos Training Facility in Englewood,
20-23 Colo., June 27-30
• Cincinnati St. Xavier High School, July 11-13
• Bothell (Wash.) High School, July 11-14
• Oceanside (N.Y.) High School, July 18-21
• Zionsville (Ind.) Community High School, July 18-21
• Oakton (Va.) Flint Hill School, July 25-28

Cost for the three-day football experiences — which

USA Football Player Academies help young athletes master the
game’s fundamentals in both on-field and classroom settings.
run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day — is $250. The
Cincinnati Player Academy is $175 for 2 ½ days of
instruction.
Athletes age 13 and 14 attending USA Football Player
Academies are eligible to be selected to the USA Football
Under-15 national team that competes in the Four
Nations Cup each summer. Members of the coaching
staff for the U-15 team also will include Player Academy
instructors.
Register your player today to build a better foundation
of football knowledge, skill and success.

14 USA Football Magazine For more, visit usafootball.com

 Adrienne and Reginald
Smith enjoy some time
together in Stockholm,
Sweden, during
Adrienne’s trip there
as a member of the
U.S. Women’s National
Team. Adrienne brought
home gold with her
team and added to a
lifetime of memories
with her father.
Reginald Smith:
what football has taught my daughter
BY AISHA JOHNSON
A
t 3-years-old, Adrienne Smith watched games on
TV with her father, Reginald Smith. By the time
Adrienne was 7, Reginald showed her how to
throw a football.
As Adrienne got older, she played multiple sports,
including basketball and softball, but it wasn’t until
she was 28 – an age when most professional athletes
are thinking about retiring – that she started her
professional football career.
Adrienne plays quarterback, wide receiver and
defensive back for the New York Sharks, a member of
the Independent Women’s Football League. Adrienne also
has played on two U.S. Women’s National Teams, winning
a gold medal at the International Federation of American
Football Women’s World Championship and silver at the
IFAF Flag Football World Championship. She also runs her
own company, Harlem Hip-Hop Tours.
Reginald Smith recently spoke with USA Football
Magazine to discuss his daughter’s love for America’s
favorite sport.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SMITH FAMILY
USA FB: What are some benefits from football that you
have seen in Adrienne?
SMITH: Football has helped her become more
competitive and has improved her leadership skills.
It has taught her to accept that you won’t win all the
Presented by
time but you don’t stop playing the game. Adrienne is
also a great teammate and athlete because she wants
everyone to do succeed.
USA FB: What do you most enjoy about watching your
daughter play?
SMITH: When she scores, of course! When you have a
daughter like Adrienne it is easy to be a proud parent. At
the games in Sweden, fans were coming up to her and
asking for her autograph. I remember when she was just
learning her ABC’s, and now here she is a professional
athlete signing autographs. It was a bittersweet moment
for me, because I was very proud of the woman she has
become but I was also thinking “Where did the time go?
My little girl has grown up so fast.”
USA FB: What is your fondest memory of Adrienne’s
football career thus far?
SMITH: In Sweden when she scored a touchdown
and she did not celebrate. She smiled but she knew that
things went according to plan and that her scoring was
not a surprise.
USA FB: What has football taught your daughter?
SMITH: Football has taught Adrienne how to be a
team player, plan ahead, persevere and overcome
adversity. She has used these skills to help her manage
her professional career as a football player and as a
businesswoman.
USA Football Magazine 15
 players center
Eighth-graders thinking of trying out for
football in high school should begin preparing
for their freshman year as early as possible.
Talk with your coach as soon as you graduate
junior high to get a head start.
Making the jump to
freshman football
Coaches offer tips for eighth-graders getting
ready for high school BY JOE FROLLO
t
he jump from eighth to ninth
grade is a big one in a football allowed, incoming freshmen can
player’s life. Athletes go from
being the biggest, strongest and
fastest to nearly starting all over
once they enter high school.
Soon-to-be freshmen don’t
have to make the plunge all at
once, however. The process
should be gradual to make
it easier both physically and
mentally.
High school head football
coaches Chris Merritt of Miami
Christopher Columbus and
Jeremy Gold of Ann Arbor (Mich.)
Pioneer both said eighth-graders CHRIS MERRITT
can do small things leading up to
the end of the school year, then take
advantage of summer workouts that
help the transition into high school
two-a-days.
Merritt said he and his staff are
ready to welcome new players the
day they leave eighth grade.
16 USA Football Magazine
Working out three days a week
is a good start in the winter and
spring, Merritt said. Players who
don’t have supervision should lift
light weights or stick to machines
instead of free weights. Lifting
incorrectly is dangerous to
developing muscles.
Merritt doesn’t allow freshmen
to lift with weights on the bars until
they have the form down correctly.
When running, stick to short
sprints that include cutting and
stopping, Merritt said. Long-
distance running “only gets you
ready for track,” he said.
“The internet is a great source for
information for cone drills, ladders
and sprinting drills,” Merritt said.
“Climbing stairs go a lot further
toward getting you in football shape
than running miles.”
Gold, an assistant coach on the
Team USA staff in Canton, said the
“In June, as soon as they are spring and summer are great times
to prepare mentally as well. Players
work out three nights a week,” said who were starters in eighth grade
Merritt, USA Football’s head coach might have to start out as reserves.
in the 2010 Team USA vs. The World Take that as a challenge early on
game and a U.S. Under-19 National to prove to the coaches that you
deserve to play.
“Know that this is something
“Climbing stairs that you want to do going into
go a lot further your ninth-grade year,” Gold
toward getting said. “It’s going to take a year-
round commitment.
you in football “Stay encouraged, and don’t
shape than be afraid to compete. You learn
running miles.” in the offseason, in practice,
in film study and in the weight
– Chris Merritt room. Soak in everything you
can to make your team better.”
Team assistant for the 2009 IFAF Working out with a trainer during
Junior World Championship in the offseason never hurts, but
Canton, Ohio. “From learning how not every kid can afford that, Gold
to lift weights to knowing how to said. Be ready for that first day
run properly, there is plenty that you can join the team and staff in
freshmen need to learn before they conditioning. Everyone can be a part
even open the playbook.” of that.
 coaching center

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 football topics including coaches, QBs and tailgating.

COACH: RICK TAYLOR STEVE LEWIS JASON CLARK BEN GOFFINS

ORGANIZATION: Greater Metro Youth Football Chandler Cowboys Bixby Youth Football Conemaugh Township
RESIDENCE: Clinton, Md. Chandler, Ariz. Bixby, Okla. Johnstown, Pa.

Skill most needed Character development in Patience and commitment Don’t overcoach. Teach A positive attitude
to coach youth using sports as a only what the players can
vehicle understand.

Biggest challenge Getting parents to Not enough time Time away from family I’m an amputee with a
to coaching understand the next level rare chronic pain disease
is not NFL as  it pertains to with no cure called reflex
youth sports sympathetic dystrophy.

Favorite coach Ralph Friedgen and Tony Mike Tomlin Mike Leach Mike Tomlin
Dungy

Best place to 5 Guys Burgers Blue 32 end zone At school, where friends
celebrate win and Fries restaurant in that don’t play feel part of
Gilbert, Ariz. the team

Pregame rituals Prayer, team Pregame warm- Pray over every player and Prayers
chants  up start time parent on both teams

Favorite football GMYFL rule book “Facing the Giants,” by Eric “Football 101” “Legends of
book Wilson the NFL”

Favorite football “Remember the Titans” “Remember the Titans” “Brian’s Song” “Facing the
movie Giants”

Most inspirational High School coach Bob Jesus Christ Todd Gram, Tulsa God and my
person Estes University wife

Who would you NFL linebacker Ray Lewis NFL Tony Dungy Mike Tomlin
like to spend a day and bass player Marcus Commissioner  and USA
with? Miller Roger Goodell Football Regional Manager
Ed Passino

Favorite USA Website and Resources library Certified education Everything they offer,
Football benefit its many and equipment program including their huge
educational grants hearts and love of the
resources game

Favorite tailgate Bratwurst with sauerkraut Zummo’s quality smoked BBQ Cole slaw on a
food on a rye hotdog roll sausages barbeque pork
sandwich

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

USA Football takes next step

in coaching development
Teaching football isn’t ‘one size fits all’
BY ANNE PANKHURST

E
very so often somebody abilities are physical and mental, at different ages, how they should
comes along with something emotional and social — they impact warm up and cool down and how a
interesting. When that the technical and competitive skills parent’s role changes as kids grow
happens for the benefit of children that players can learn and perform and mature.
playing sports, interesting becomes at different ages. In terms of growth and maturation,
exciting to me. It is easy to put them the ages of 6 to 14 span the years
About a year ago into a simple model. when players progress from being
a call came from USA USA Football’s version is young children to moving through
Football Director of the Player Progression puberty. During this time, instructors
Football Development Development Model need different skills to coach well.
Nick Inzerello asking for (PPDM). PPDM is the practical link
my help in developing an PPDM is divided into between player development and
age-specific program for two-year age bands, coach development. USA Football
young football players. beginning at Under-6 and is now developing coaching
Nick wanted to take progressing to Under-14. education courses to train
research on young ANNE PANKHURST These ages match the coaches to work specifically with
athlete development competitive framework the different age groups. In what
and help football coaches train in the sport and indicate to is probably a first in U.S. sports
players in ways that are appropriate commissioners, coaches and parents coaching, USA Football will ensure
to each player’s age and stage of what kids can do and when. their coaches know how, what
development. Apart from the physical, technical, and why to teach young players at
My background is in combining mental, emotional, social and different ages and stages.
coach and player development competitive skills, research also That’s the reason for my
strategies so excitement.
coaches are Pankhurst
knowledgeable is a Player
about what Progression
kids can do and Development
how to coach Model
them when consultant to
they are ready USA Football.
to do it. To me, She mentors
coaches must coaches and
understand delivers age-
why children specific athlete
are capable of development
learning specific skills between the shows how much training and programs in the United States and
ages of 6 and 14. These skills and competition children should have United Kingdom.

18 USA Football Magazine

 coaching center

USA Football Coaching Schools teach the basics in the classroom setting, then put the coaches through the drills out on the
practice field.

Coaching Schools have you

covered
Clinics include age-based
instruction for all levels
BY JOE FROLLO

B
ecome a better coach with USA Football’s
Coaching Schools.
The one-day clinics held across the
nation are conducted by top local youth and
high school coaches and specifically designed
to help coaches learn how to properly teach
football fundamentals,
improve organization and
incorporate new offensive,
defensive and special
teams schemes. Lessons
include both classroom and on-field instruction.
New for 2011 is the inclusion of USA Football’s
Player Progression Development Model that
helps coaches teach the sport at the their team’s
particular age level. Join your fellow coaches in the
Under-8, Under-10, Under-12 and Under-14 groups
for sessions specific to your team’s age level.
To learn more about USA Football’s Coaching
Schools, visit: www.usafootball.com.

USA Football Magazine 19

 coaching center
Art of the long snap
BY STEVE ALIC
I
t can mean the difference
between winning and losing,
yet it’s often overlooked by the
casual fan.
Long snapping is a critical skill
that can
PATRICK MANNELLY
be taught
and learned
on the
youth level,
according
to Chicago
Bears long
snapper
Patrick
Mannelly.
The 13-
year NFL veteran was named to
the 2010 USA Football/NFL Players
Association All-Fundamentals Team.
A video breakdown of Mannelly’s
long snapping fundamentals can be
found on his All-Fundamentals Team
player page.
“I started consistently long
snapping in the seventh grade,”
said Mannelly, who runs a website
dedicated to the skill called www.
long snapper.com. “I believe any
player – third grade and above – is
fine to start long snapping, but
they should make sure they have
the proper fundamentals to do it
consistently.”
Quinton Askew of the Maryland
American Youth Football Conference
has coached 14 seasons — 11 youth,
three high school — and has a
successful method of teaching the
position.
“Get a good, comfortable stance,
feet slightly wider than shoulder-
width apart and stretch to your full
extent to the ball,” says Askew, a
20 USA Football Magazine
USA Football coaching member. “If individual basis, much like being
right-handed, place your right hand on a driving range for a golf
under the ball, gripping it with a lesson – one-on-one, very patient,
slight turn with your hand covering positive and supportive. The deep
the laces. The slight turn helps with snapper should have a regular and
spiraling the pass. consistent routine: the foot plant
“The left hand and width, weight distribution, grip
should be at the on ball, distance of arms in front
center of the ball and even the breathing pattern
with the fingertips should all be emphasized so that
covering the top – the athlete feels comfortable in
this is your guide their skill delivery. If a kicker is
hand. The player warming up for the big kick, then if
should slightly lift feasible, warm up the deep snapper
the ball and push on third down.”
it back as if he is Chicago’s right-handed Mannelly
throwing a pass aims to finish with his right index
with a powerful motion. The most finger pointing at his target – he
important part is making aims for a punter’s belt
sure the player’s hands buckle — with both hands
extend through the legs completely following
and upper thigh.” through.
Helping lead the 2010 McLaughlin offers a
U.S. Women’s National closing piece of advice
Team to a gold medal for coaches in finding
in Stockholm, Sweden, long snappers on their
was Mark McLaughlin. A rosters:
veteran football coach “Someone who would
QUINTON ASKEW
on the high school and be good at ‘leap frog’
women’s professional would have attributes
levels, McLaughlin similar to what we are
directed Team USA’s asking for. We propel
special teams. ourselves forward with
“An aspect of arms between the legs
deep snapping that and generate a good
goes underrated or amount of force while
underappreciated is doing it. 
that we as coaches are “You need someone
asking an athlete to MARK McLAUGHLIN with athleticism, someone
view the world upside who is a little fearless,
down and then to complete the someone who deals with pressure,
skill through mental imagery,” and someone who takes pride in
McLaughlin said. what they are doing. Coaches should
“Practice on a regular and instill that pride.”
Learn more at www.allfundamentalsteam.com
 coaching center

TAKEAWAY-GIVEAWAY WITH LARRY & DAVID

What to do in the red zone?

Mixing it up near the goal line is to a Stick with what got you there
defense’s advantage BY DAVID MARCO
BY LARRY CANARD During a typical NFL broadcast, announcers will
There is an old saying in football that goes: “The talk about the importance of scoring while in the
only thing the prevent defense does is prevent the red zone. Youth teams don’t often have a player
defense from stopping the offense.” who can successfully kick field goals. So when we
Thinking about that statement, get inside the 20 yard line, we
it stands to reason that being able need to score a touchdown.
to predict how the defense will It’s vital to keep red-zone
line up and defend a given play is mistakes to a minimum, so I
a tremendous advantage for the prefer plays that have been the
offense. most successful for us. We run
Mixing up your defensive off-tackle, counters, wedge and
alignments, some trap
blitzes and coverages will — the same plays we run 90
keep the offensive coach percent of the time, our bread
guessing. At the youth level, and butter.
practice time and the ability of When you get into the red
the young players to absorb zone, players tend to get
information does not create nervous because they know
a great environment for the how important it is to be score.
defensive players to read and As a coach it’s my job to make
react. them as comfortable and
Mixing up your defensive confident as possible. Why call
approach in the red zone gets a play at the most important
the players moving at the snap part of a game we don’t
and can create confusion for usually run?
the offensive players. Applying Defenses tend to be very
pressure in the red zone gives aggressive in the red zone.
the defense an advantage, They are not worried about
and since the back of the end giving up a big play. So the
zone acts as a 12th defender, closest I get to a trick play in
getting beat on a deep pass is the red zone is changing the
not a concern. snap count to try to make the
Conversely, calling a less defense pay for being overly
aggressive play in certain aggressive.
situations has the advantage of the front of the end In the past two seasons, my teams have been
zone being a 12th man and keeping the offense in stopped only four times in the red zone, and two
front of the defense. A confused offense — one that of these were on fumbles. We scored a touchdown
isn’t sure if you are coming full-force or in a base 84 percent of the time. Do what you do best, and
set — will have trouble scoring. you will have more success.

22 USA Football Magazine


Meet a USA Football Member
Walt Lodes Jr.
Michigan man has been a coach for
34 years
BY AISHA JOHNSON
W
alt Lodes Jr.’s coaching career began on
the first day of his son’s first practice.
The team was short-handed and needed
help. The rest is history. For the past 34 years, he
has enjoyed providing a safe and fun environment
for youngsters to learn to play football while instilling
the values of teamwork and discipline in his players.
Lodes recently spoke to USA Football Magazine to
discuss his volunteer work and USA Football.
What is your proudest moment as a coach?
When my sons got older they both became
involved with football -- one in coaching and one in
league administration. Six of my former players are
coaches of youth football teams. One former player
told me that I always looked like I was having fun, so
that’s why he became a coach. I also enjoy coaching
the kids whose fathers used to play for me.
Why is youth football important to the development
of the sport?
Football teaches players teamwork and discipline.
With 22 kids on the field at a time, football teaches
that they need to work together as a team. Teamwork
is something that is valued in life and in a career.
How did you first learn about USA Football?
We first learned about USA Football during the
youth football forum at Ford Field in Detroit. Then
Scott LeVeque (USA Football Great Lakes regional
manager) contacted me about attending the
Michigan State Forum in 2009, where we learned a lot
about what USA Football does. I met other folks, and
we had a really good discussion and traded ideas
about sportsmanship and safety.
coaching center
Name Walt Lodes Jr.
Residence Grand Rapids, Mich.
USA Football memberships
Commissioner, Coach
League Northern Rocket Football
League
How long coaching 34 years
Full-time job Regional manager,
Statewide Non-Profit and Training
Agency: Michigan State AFL-CIO
Human Resources Development
Why did you become a USA Football member?
I went to the USA Football website, and I saw
the amount of information, and it was staggering.
In addition to the X’s and O’s, they have health and
safety information. For new leagues, you don’t have
to reinvent the wheel. To me it’s just awesome.
How has your membership benefitted you as a
coach?
A good coach is always trying to learn something
new. The game is always changing. USA Football
puts out a lot of good information like offensive
and defensive drills and Coach Bass columns that
answer everyday questions. We’ve put everything
that USA Football has sent me about concussions on
our website, and we’ve encouraged our teams and
coaches to share it on their websites as well.
Would you recommend USA Football to other
coaches?
Absolutely. I’ve been very impressed with the
organization and how helpful (Great Lakes Regional
Manager) Scott LeVeque has been.
USA Football Magazine 23
 health & fitness
Offseason drills to
help build agility
BY RETT LARSON
PRECISION JUMPS
t
he best football players can
look like acrobats on the field,
using their bodies to get to
the ball or the man in their sights.
You see receivers rocket into space,
find the ball, then somehow safely
return to earth.
Any good offseason training
program needs to lay the foundation
for the circus catches and tackles
you see on TV, and these two drills
will do just that.
Precision Jumps
To work on balance and landing
skills, use precision boards that are
raised two inches off of the ground.
Start with the boards about two feet
apart and practice jumping from one
to the other.
Without even thinking about it, you’ll
start absorbing your landing forces
more safely as you concentrate on
24 USA Football Magazine
ARROWHEAD DRILL
sticking the landing. Once you’re able
to do eight jumps in a row without
falling, move the boards farther apart.
More elite football players do
these with one-footed landings,
and receivers can attempt to catch
a softly thrown football mid-jump.
Those advanced progressions can
make this drill challenging.
Arrowhead Drill
Great agility is a combination of
reaction-time, speed and the ability
to decelerate your body weight
to change directions quickly. The
arrowhead agility drill works on all of
those things.
Set up cones in an arrow pattern
with the tip 15 yards from the tail and
the side cones at 45 degrees and
five yards away from the tip. Start
at the tail and sprint forward to the
tip. When you get there, turn around
the cone and head at a diagonal to
either one of the sides. Get around
the side cone and head to the middle
cone, around it and finally back to the
starting line. Repeat on the other side.
Once you’ve practiced running
the arrowhead drill for four weeks,
add a reactive component by having
a friend stand at the tip and wave
you either left or right as you sprint
toward him. If you want to increase
your conditioning, team up with
a friend and take turns running
through it until you’ve both gone
through 10 times.
Rett Larson is the director
of coaching at Velocity Sports
Performance and is a certified
strength and conditioning specialist
through the National Strength and
Conditioning Association. Larson also
serves as USA Football’s expert in
sports performance training.
For more, visit: http://www.velocitysp.com/
USA Football Magazine 25
 commissioner center

Budget decisions can Presented by

free up extra dollars

BY JOE FROLLO

L
eagues looking to stretch their
budget often can save a few
dollars in equipment choices.
Teams don’t need to adopt the
classic austere look of Penn State,
but every logo, stripe and decoration have thought you
– whether on helmets or pants –
adds to the annual bill.
George Maczuga, Riddell’s director colors for jerseys and
of sales and marketing support and
a member of USA Football’s Football
and Wellness Committee, said
whether a league is starting up or
working from an existing financial
plan, spending money requires wise
decisions.
“It comes down to what a
league’s priorities are,” Maczuga
said. “Do you want to make the
team picture look great or would
you rather use that money to make
sure kids are protected the best
they can be? Everyone
wants to see their team look
good, but I’d think every
parent’s No. 1 concern is the
overall protection.”
Maczuga said adding
stripes and logos can cost
as much as $6 per helmet.
Painting a helmet can cost an
additional $8 per unit.
For a four-team league
with 25 players per team,
that is an extra $600 to
$1,400 per year. For the same
“Start adding
things up that are
purely cosmetic, and
you will find some
money you might not
had,” Maczuga said.
Likewise, use solid
pants. Avoid team or
player name unless
the players buy
their jerseys. Basic Young quarterbacks can learn to throw passes just as easily
facemask styles – with a standard set of shoulder pads. Investing in a special set
one for skill players, doesn’t mean next year’s star QB will fit into them.
one for linemen – in
black or gray are different shoulder pads for your
more cost-effective if one needs to star quarterback, but then you are
be replaced in-season. buying a premium item for just one
“If money is tight, stay away from year. Your QB will grow, and your
specialized facemasks and shoulder next QB might be four inches taller or
pads,” Maczuga said. “You may want shorter.”
One way to help families cut costs
is through equipment exchanges
for shoes, gloves and other items
that can be passed down to other
players.
The Berlin (Wisc.) Youth Football
and Cheerleading runs a cleat
exchange program in which
outgrown shoes are resold at $5.
The money goes toward college
scholarships for former players.
“Kids’ feet grow really fast,
and this is a way to help parents
keep their costs down,” said Mike
PHOTOS COURTESY OF RIDDELL

money, leagues can go a Avoid adding unnecessary stripes or logos to Schrader, league president and a
long way toward having their a helmet if your league is trying to keep costs USA Football member. “They like that,
shoulder pads and helmets down. Those extras need to be touched up every and it helps our relationship with the
reconditioned. year, adding to the overall bill. parents.”

26 USA Football Magazine For more information, visit riddell.com


REGIONAL MANAGER’S REPORT
Come share your ideas at
USA Football’s state forums
BY BASSEL FALTAS
U
SA Football State
Leadership Forums
offer an opportunity
for candid discussions
about the state of youth
football across a
region.
League
and club
administrators
are creative,
hard-working
individuals with
a wealth of BASSEL FALTAS
knowledge to
share. We strive to value
the group’s similarities
with open dialog about
how to solve common
issues in youth football.
We foster and encourage
continued relationships
to build a communication
network for support, ideas
TSS PHOTOGRAPHY / BETSY TAYLOR
commissioner center
and possible cross-league
competition.  
Topics of conversation
include sportsmanship
and how commissioners
encourage
strong core
values among
players, coaches,
parents and game
officials.
Concussion
awareness in
youth sports
is one topic of
concern shared among
forum delegates. The
youth football community
is eager to create
awareness by taking a
proactive approach to
education within the
sports community.
Another popular
Members of the Northern California/Nevada state forum met Jan. 15
in Truckee, Calif. The group meets annually to discuss new ideas and
topics of concern for youth football leagues throughout the region.
discussion centers it is always a positive
on what makes a when they highlight
commissioner’s the strengths of their
league or a president’s organizations.
club special. League We have seen forums
commissioners and club grow in size and strength
presidents are proud of in the Northwest and
their communities, and across the rest of the
United States. We feel
this type of interaction
will only strengthen the
greatest sport we know.
Contact your regional
manager for information on
a state forum near you.
Bassel Faltas is USA
Football’s Northwest
Regional manager,
overseeing Washington,
Oregon, Idaho, Montana,
Wyoming, Northern
California and Northern
Nevada.
USA Football Magazine 27
 commissioner center

USA Football Regional Managers

America’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 kick off your free commissioner membership or to ask
about coaching certification, the nearest USA Football Coaching School, Player Academy or State Leadership Forum. 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, through usafootball.com or by phone at (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 (317) 489-4437
Bassel Faltas Central Region Scott LeVeque epassino@usafootball.com
Joe Owens (317) 489-4434
(317) 489-4426
bfaltas@usafootball.com (317) 489-4436 sleveque@usafootball.com
jowens@usafootball.com

West Region Southeast Region

Bucky Brooks Rick Peacock
South Region Mid-Atlantic Region
(317) 489-4421 Dave Fanucchi Deno Campbell (317) 489-4438
bbrooks@usafootball.com rpeacock@usafootball.com
(317) 489-4427 (317) 489-4422
dfanucchi@usafootball.com
(240) 351-7392
dcampbell@usafootball.com
28 USA Football Magazine
 commissioner center

Football fundraisers that score

BY JOE FROLLO

T
here is no wrong way to raise
money to support youth
football. Every dollar earned
goes toward helping a league or
offsetting costs for families.
The key to a successful
fundraiser, though, is finding a
niche that taps into what people
want, what they need. A bake sale
or car wash can net some friendly
donations, but larger potential pay
days are out there for leagues with
a little creativity.
“We have several fundraisers
every year,” said Ed Hart, a USA
Football member and commissioner
of the Youth Football Federation in
Houston, a group that overseas 12
organizations and 2,100 players.
“The basis to all of them is there Members of Berlin (Wisc.) Youth Football and Cheerleading made and sold pizzas last
is strength in numbers. The more season, raising money for their league.
people you get to do their part, the
more you can raise.” said. “If you can do that with no BRAX Spirit Cups have helped
Hart said YFF volunteers work continual work by volunteers, it’s leagues across the United States
concession stands at Houston easier money.” raise money. As USA Football’s
Texans’ games, with the youth Other fundraisers can go a long way official fundraising partner, BRAX
leagues keeping 10 percent of their toward building community spirit. offers cups emblazoned with
sales. The larger the group, the larger Players in Berlin (Wisc.) Youth designs from all 32 NFL teams, 90
the take. Football and Cheerleading can offset colleges or five military designs.
Hart also is looking into a program their participation fees by selling New this year are NFL and college
in Texas in which non-profits can pizzas. For each pizza sold, the popcorn buckets filled with 10
sign people up for electricity plans league will knock $2 off the $100 microwavable popcorn packets.
and receive a percentage of each entry fee. BRAX co-owner Pete Hexter
bill as long as the person remains a Many reach a goal of 50 and play said he has helped local leagues
customer. USA Football will offer a for free, said league president Mike in a variety of fundraising projects,
retail partnership with Zazzle.com in Schrader. including yard cleanups, pizza sales
the spring in which leagues can link “Last year, a quarter of our people and product sales. The ones that
to the site and upload their logos, had all their registration fee paid work best are projects the kids can
creating an online store, then bringing for,” Schrader said. “We have some get behind.
in a percentage every time someone fun, get the kids together, make the “Whether it’s odd jobs or selling
makes an apparel or merchandise pizzas ourselves, and they deliver something, if the kids are out there
order. them all in the same day. doing it with the support of their
“This gives you the ability to A member of the community donates parents, you are going to do much
generate longterm benefits,” Hart the supplies, and we do the rest.” better,” he said.
USA Football Magazine 29
 commissioner center

A solid foundation is best tool

to expand player base
BY JOE FROLLO

W
hen looking to attract more players to your
league, the best advice remains the same – put
out a good product, and people will come.
Calvin Massie of Prince George’s County Boys and Girls
Club in Greenbelt, Md., said parents who feel comfortable
are the best marketing tools. With a league that includes
2,800 players, 250 coaches and 226 teams, Massie
believes his organization sells itself by word of mouth.
“There are a lot of maverick leagues out there who
come and go,” Massie said. “We like to promote ourselves
as a part of the community. People remember that.”
Being affiliated with USA Football goes a long way
toward that goal. Whether through coaches training,
background checks or online courses, Massie said it
“raises the bar and raises the caliber of our coaches.”
Ed Hart of the Youth Football Federation in Houston said
parents want their children to be challenged but also want
to feel secure with the coaching staff.
“You have to do things with class, and you have to do
things for the entire family,” said Hart, who helps oversee
2,100 players.
Establishing a cheer program helps get more family
members involved. Grandma may be more willing to
come watch if she can see all the little ones out there on
Saturday afternoons.
“We could have four generations from the same family
in the stands before, during and after the game,” Hart said.
“By making it enjoyable for the whole family, you have a
better chance of people saying good things about you.”
The first rule in looking to expand your league is making sure you
are meeting the needs of everyone involved – players, coaches and
their families.
Tom Murphy of St. Francis Xavier Football in Cross
Plains, Wisc., helps oversee a small league with 190
players. Those players, though, represent more boys than
are registered at the school that serves as the league’s
home base.
“I know people who drive 30, 35 miles to be a part of
our league,” Murphy said. “What started as one team with
23 players now has 10 teams from grades four to eight.”
Murphy said the key is projecting a positive outlook at
every game and practice. Let that message slip for even
one season, and reputations can be affected.
“If you back off, you can lose them to other programs,”
he said. “Smaller teams, more coaches … that gives
players more chances to play and learn. If the players are
enjoying it, their parents will feel they are getting their
money’s worth.”

USA Football, Riddell to award $1 million in equipment grants

Since 2006, USA Football has awarded more than $3 million in new football equipment to
approximately 2,000 youth and school-operated football programs spanning all 50 states. Based on
merit and need, USA Football’s Grants Program in 2011 – with help from Riddell – will award $1 million
worth of equipment to deserving leagues and school-based football programs.
Sign up at www.usafootball.com now to receive an automated e-mail – or “e-reminder” – informing
you of when the 2011 USA Football Grants application form is ready. Request an e-reminder by clicking on
the Equipment Grants link under the Commissioners tab at usafootball.com.
The online equipment grant application will be up and running by mid-March.

30 USA Football Magazine


Primary focus needs to
change with the game
Following the ball is no longer enough to protect players
BY BILL LeMONNIER
F
or years, officials have
been taught to key on
the offensive team.
The rationale is this mechanic
takes you to the point of
attack and allows you to
properly officiate the play.
This is still the framework
for sound officiating, but the
game has changed to one
played by high-skilled athletes
who are bigger, stronger and
faster than ever before.
The danger of high speed
contact puts players at risk for
serious head and neck injuries,
particularly when defenseless
players are being targeted to
those area by their opponents.
This is a whole new challenge
for officials in their efforts to
keep the game safe.
Officials need to re-think
their approach and shift their
attention from offense to
defense to deal with a variety
of situations. Crew mechanics
vary depending on the number of
officials. That said, player safety
must be the No. 1 priority.
Here are areas where officials can Pass receivers
adjust their approach to keep the full
play in view:
Punt returners
While the primary covering
official focuses on the catch,
nearby officials shift from the
For more, visit: http://bit.ly/dRr96s
officiating center
multiple officials signaling
an incomplete pass as the
receiver is leveled by high
contact.
Quarterbacks
passing
Referees need to
look for the defender
who has clearly beaten
his block and is coming
in unmolested on the
quarterback. Be ready to
move to see the potential
contact to the thrower’s
neck and head. Too often,
referees are straight-lined
and miss the contact point
by the defender or have
stayed too long on a block
and never see the hit on
the QB.
USA Football Rules Comimttee editor Bill LeMonnier believes
officials need to shift their attention from offense to defense
in a variety of situations.
Players obviously
out of play
receiving team to the kicking team’s When the play goes
gunners. These potential tacklers away and a player is just standing
can hit the punt returner while he is there, he cannot be blindsided by
defenseless. his opponent. Players, coaches and
fans need to be educated that cheap
shots cause more injuries to the
The primary covering official head and neck than any other part of
takes the potential catch/no-catch the game.
and interference judgments. The LeMonnier is USA Football’s Rules
off-officials key on defenders Committee editor and a longtime
coming in, whether it is to jar college football referee. He also
the ball loose or on an obviously is USA Football’s lead officiating
overthrown pass. Crews don’t need consultant.
USA Football Magazine 31
 football facts, stats & figures
BY JOE FROLLO AND MEGAN MOYER

89
Coaches come from all over
Football is being played by approximately 3 million youths across the United
States. The sport is flourishing with USA Football members in all 50 states and
Washington, D.C.
Football is taught by a wide variety of individuals. Thanks to several studies
commissioned by USA Football, including two with Turnkey Intelligence and
Percent of coaches
Axiom Direct, here are closer looks at America’s youth football coaches:
who have a child
Youth Football Coaches - Where They Coach playing football

0 15% 30% 45% 60%

Urban

Suburban

Rural
98
The percentage
of youth football
coaches who are male

84
The percentage of
youth football coaches
7
The average years of
coaching experience per
43
The average age
of youth football
who are married individual coaches

Top of the charts
The NFL’s dominance on television continued
this season as 18 of the 20 highest-rated
telecast of any kind in the final four months
of 2010 were NFL games on CBS, NBC or Fox,
according to the New York Times.
Of the 50 highest-rated programs during all of
2010, 27 were NFL games, including eight of the
top 10. And over on cable, it wasn’t a contest.
The top 13 spots in the cable ratings from the
fall were all NFL games on ESPN.
Here’s a list of the top 10 shows from 2010
and the percentage of people who watched on
television:
Super Bowl XLIV: Colts vs. Saints CBS...................................45.0
NFC Championship: Saints vs. Packers Fox..........................30.6
AFC Championship: Jets vs. Colts CBS...................................26.3
Academy Awards ABC................................................................23.3
NFC playoff, Jan. 17: Cowboys vs. Vikings Fox.....................22.0
AFC playoff, Jan. 17: Jets vs. Chargers CBS............................20.1
NFC playoff, Jan. 10: Packers vs. Cardinals Fox....................19.6
Undercover Boss, Feb. 7 CBS.....................................................19.1
NFL playoff, Jan. 9: Eagles vs. Cowboys NBC........................18.0
NFL regular season, Dec. 12, Patriots vs. Bears-* CBS....... 17.5
*-Also includes other regional games at the same time as part of total number
SOURCE: NEW YORK TIMES

32 USA Football Magazine

 meet a usa football board member
USA FOOTBALL’S
BOARD OF
Desmond Howard DIRECTORS
Ray Anderson

Board of Directors adds Heisman winner

Exec. V.P., Football Operations
National Football League

Jason Belser
BY EMILY NEWELL Senior Regional Director

F
NFL Players Association
ormer NFL wide receiver and return
Joe Browne
specialist Desmond Howard has joined Senior Advisor to the Commissioner
USA Football’s Board of Directors. National Football League
The national governing body of the sport,
Jon Butler
USA Football is the official youth football Executive Director
development partner of the NFL, the NFL Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.

Players Association and each of the league’s Tom Cove

32 teams. President & CEO
SGMA International
Inducted into the College Football Hall
of Fame in December, Howard earned the Carl Francis
Director of Communications
Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award NFL Players Association
in 1991 while attending the University of
Alexia Gallagher
Michigan. Director, NFL Charities &
A Cleveland native, Howard became the Youth Football Fund.
National Football League
first receiver in Big Ten history to lead the
conference in scoring. While at Michigan, he Bob Gardner
Executive Director
set or tied five NCAA records and 12 single-
National Federation of State
season Michigan records. He has served as an analyst for ESPN’s “College GameDay” High School Associations
show during two of its Sports
Roger Goodell
Emmy-winning seasons in 2007-08 Commissioner
and 2009-10. National Football League

Drafted fourth overall by the Merril Hoge

Washington Redskins in 1992, NFL Alumnus and
ESPN NFL Analyst
Howard earned Super Bowl XXXI
Most Valuable Player honors in Desmond Howard
Former NFL All-Star
helping the Green Bay Packers beat NFL Alumnus
the New England Patriots, 35-21.
Mark Meana
He returned a punt 99 yards for a Chairman
touchdown in becoming the only Fairfax County (Va.)
Youth Football League
special teams player to earn Super
Bowl MVP. Carl Peterson
Chairman
In 2000, Howard was named to
USA Football
the Pro Bowl as a member of the
Detroit Lions. Howard played for DeMaurice Smith
Executive Director
five teams during his 11-season NFL Players Association
NFL career, recording 12,155 all- Grant Teaff
purpose yards while scoring eight Executive Director
touchdowns on punt returns. American Football
OF ESPN

Coaches Association
Howard replaces NFL Alumni
EDWARDS
COURTESY

member Brian Mitchell on the board Deborah Yow

Athletic Director
ANTHONY

of directors.
PHOTOS

North Carolina State University

PHOTO:

USA Football Magazine 33

 What Football Taught Me
Joe Guyaux, President of PNC Financial Services
BY AISHA JOHNSON

A
s the President of PNC Financial Services, Joe “I went to Brown (University) to play three sports
Guyaux attributes his success off the field to (basketball, football and tennis) but ended up playing
the values and life lessons that he learned on none,” he said
the gridiron. After suffering an ankle injury and a middle
“Football — and more broadly athletics — have ear infection, Guyaux missed a lot of football and
served me well in the business world. To compete basketball practice time during his first semester in
you have to put in the time to prepare yourself, know college. Faced with the tough decision to choose one
your strengths and sport, he ultimately
weaknesses and give decided to focus on
it your all,” the Western academics and play
Pennsylvania native intramural sports.
said. “The thing I like about
In addition to sports is competing,”
working hard, Guyaux Guyaux said. “One thing
said the key to success I did as I came to work
is teamwork. right out of college
“Football in particular was that I played in a
shows you how basketball league, a
dependent you are on softball league and took
the other 10 members up golf. I still play tennis
on the team,” said competitively, about
Guyaux, who played three times a week.”
quarterback and Growing up a
defensive back in high Pittsburgh Steelers
school. “It shows you fan, Guyaux’s love of
how important it is for football didn’t diminish
everyone to be working after his playing days
toward the same were over. Guyaux
outcome. It’s sort of recently helped present
the same thing when LaMarr Woodley with
I’m running business “Football shows you how dependent the USA Football/NFLPA
teams. you are on the other 10 members of the All-Fundamentals Team
“Sometimes you trophy.
need to stay at it and team. It’s sort of the same thing when “It was a great
know that you might I’m running business teams.” experience, and I was
not be successful right – Joe Guyaux and grandson Clayton thrilled to be a part of
away. The same is true it,” he said. “Any time
in football. You can’t you can reinforce to
win all the time. How you respond to your losses and someone that they are modeling behavior on and off
setbacks determines how you will progress.” the football field for future players and fans is a great
Guyaux knows about overcoming obstacles. opportunity.”

34 USA Football Magazine