NFL Players to Complete USA Football's Concussion Education Training for Coaching Internship
USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, and the NFL have partnered to provide former and current NFL players the opportunity to serve internships as coaches at one of nine USA Football Player Academies, three-day football camps for athletes aged 7-14 conducted across the country from June 14-July 22.
All former and current NFL players serving as instructors at USA Football Player Academies this summer will successfully complete USA Football's online certified coaching course, which takes approximately two hours to complete. In addition to coaching philosophy and scheme, the online computer-animated course encompasses concussion education and management, player hydration and proper equipment fitting.
USA Football internships are among several new NFL Player Development programs to benefit NFL players interested in coaching youth and high school football at the conclusion of their playing career.
USA Football is the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels and is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association.
USA Football's coaching courses have been successfully completed by coaches in all 50 states. By the start of the 2010 season, USA Football will have helped educate more than 50,000 youth coaches across country through its online courses and full-day coaching schools.
"We are pleased that the NFL values our coaching education courses as do hundreds of youth football leagues across the country," USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck said. "NFL players serving as coaching interns at our player academies will result in exciting football experiences and skill development for the game's younger players."
"This internship is a chance to share with our youth the importance of education, character, life skills and team work - which will help them succeed in whatever profession they choose," said Troy Vincent, NFL Vice President of Player Development. "It also provides NFL players the opportunity to learn the components of a successful football camp."
"This is an opportunity to give back and to share my experiences from the NFL, college and high school," former NFL All-Star safety Lance Schulters said. Schulters, who played in the NFL from 1998-2007, will work with defensive backs at USA Football's Player Academy in Hempstead, N.Y., from July 5-8. "I look forward to teaching what I know and to stress the importance of doing well in school - you need to succeed in the classroom first to get that opportunity on the field."
Approximately 415,000 football coaches serve the 3.0 million youngsters who play youth tackle football in the United States. An additional 1.14 million high school boys play football, more than doubling the next-played sport by that group according to the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations.
