NFL and USA Football Select More Than 150 High School Football Coaches and Youth Administrators to Attend Youth Football Summit

More than 60 coaches, including former NFL players now coaching high school and youth football, have been selected by the NFL to participate in the 12^th annual NFL-USA Football Youth Football Summit, beginning today in Canton, Ohio.

In addition to these coaches, 95 other supporters of youth and high school football, including youth football commissioners from across the country, will attend the Summit, which is held at Kent State Stark Professional Education & Conference Center.  The event is funded by the NFL Youth Football Fund (YFF).

DR. MARGOT PUTUKIAN, director of athletic medicine at Princeton University and member of the NFL Head, Neck & Spine Committee, will address coaches on the importance of concussion treatment and prevention.

Coaches also will learn about the Lystedt Law, legislation aimed at protecting young athletes from returning to play too soon after head injuries. The law has been passed in 38 states and the District of Columbia.  The NFL has been an active advocate in these states and others to make youth sports safer.

Former Steelers great MERRIL HOGE will speak with summit participants on the vital role coaches play in the lives of young athletes, while former player and current NFL Vice President of Player Engagement TROY VINCENT will discuss the value of education.  Throughout the Summit, attendees also will hear from Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Tippett, and former NFL team executive and current NFL.com contributor GIL BRANDT.

Leaders in the fields of sports medicine and sports psychology will review topics facing youth sports.  DR. LINN GOLDBERG of Oregon Health & Science University will lead a steroid and supplement education session and discuss the NFL’s ATLAS  & ATHENA  Anti-Steroid Education program.  The Gatorade Sports Science Institute will address the issues of heat and hydration, and participants also will learn about injury prevention in youth sports.

Other topics at the summit include an NCAA session on eligibility and recruiting, interactive demonstrations on proper equipment fitting, the importance of a feeder system, helping young players to achieve their potential and handling coach-player-parent relationships.  

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