Andy Ryland and Gabe Infante demonstrate a tackling drill while former NFL players look on.
Photo courtesy of USA Football
USA Football has a plan to make the game safer at all levels, and it's working from the ground up.
On Wednesday, the organization welcomed 50 former NFL players to Lucas Oil Stadium as part of its Heads Up initiative to complete training to be Heads Up Football Ambassadors in their local communities.
Scott Hallenbeck, USA Football
Photo courtesy of USA Football
"The health and safety of every youth player is USA Football's No. 1 priority," USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck said. "Heads Up Football is a significant first for our game and we are proud that former NFL players endorse it as Heads Up Football Ambassadors in all 50 states and Washington, D.C."
The players, who spanned several decades and included the likes of Merrill Hoge and Lavar Arrington, gathered first for a seminar on proper pad and equipment fitting, and its implications on player safety.
Next they headed onto the field for hands-on instruction in the Heads Up tackling drills and technique, which were run by USA Football Football Development Manager Andy Ryland as well as
St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) head coach Gabe Infante and
St. Xavier (Cincinnati) head coach Steve Specht, both of whom have been involved with USA Football for a number of years.
The Heads Up tackling technique is different than what most former NFL players were taught when they played football.
"We want to de-emphasize any language that emphasizes the head. ‘Bite the ball.' ‘Put your hat on the ball,'" Infante said during on-field instruction, referencing phrases that encourage a player to lead with his head while making a tackle.
"That is wrong. We have to change that. ... It's not an efficient way to tackle anyway, and it's dangerous."
Ryland stressed the importance of clearly teaching the proper fundamentals to youth players at an early age. According to USA Football, two-third of youth football players will not play at the high school level.
"We start from level one," Ryland said to the group of 50 Heads Up Football Ambassadors. "Everything we ask a young man to do, we have to be able to teach, and we have to have a drill for it. At that age, you just can't say [it]."
The framework of the Heads Up program is ambitious and far-reaching. The Football Ambassadors will educate youth league officials, who will instruct other coaches in the league. The Heads Up training will then be issued to the players.
At that point parents are brought in, so they can take an active role in assuring the safety of their children, particularly in the areas of proper helmet and equipment fitting.
Ongoing follow-through on safety, heads up tackling and concussion monitoring comprise the final step in the program.
According to Lavar Arrington, the opportunity to give back in this capacity is a no-brainer for the Ambassadors.
"I think it's a bunch of guys that love kids, that love the game of football, and want to make a difference," he said. "If you take the National Football League out of the scenario, out of the equation, if people are paying attention these same guys are already doing what's going on right now."
Jeff Miller addresses the crowd.
Photo courtesy of USA Football
The NFL, which was instrumental in the development of USA Football, has supported the Heads Up initiative, along with the NCAA, National Federation of State High School Associations and the American Football Coaches Association.
"The game needs to be taught appropriately at the youth level," said Jeff Miller, the NFL Senior Vice President of Health and Safety Policy. "It's a significant league initiative and we want to make sure that youth football is getting the support it deserves."
Individual NFL teams have jumped right in. Each team sent a representative to Indianapolis to learn firsthand the techniques that will be taught to the youth players.
Ultimately, USA Football's vision is that the attention to safety and technique the Heads Up program teachers at the youth level will permeate all levels of football, with the high school ranks marking the next frontier.
"We need to talk to as many high school coaches as possible, as well as football coach associations, to start implementing this," Hallenbeck said.
For more information on Heads Up Football, watch the video below.
