USAFM Issue1
USAFM Issue1
USAFM Issue1
H E L M E T S . B U T Y O U S T I L L H Y D R AT E T H E M W I T H WAT E R ?
Of all the things you can do to protect your Gatorade is scientifically formulated to replace
players from dehydration, upgrading from water electrolytes, helping players retain fluids and stay
to Gatorade® is the most important. When safely hydrated.
athletes sweat they lose more than water. Learn why every coach should upgrade
They lose electrolytes, which are critical to his or her hydration plan from water to
rehydrating young athletes. Unlike water, Gatorade at gatorade.com/coaches
FEATURES
4 On the Prowl 18 Ball Hawk 24 Why I Coach:
Marvin Lewis has taken the Rod Woodson used to jump in Gary Patterson
lessons learned from his youth front of passes every Sunday. What’s a Horned Frog, you ask?
coaches in a small Pennsylvania Now the future Hall of Famer Texas Christian University’s
town to the NFL sidelines in jump-starts Play Football Month. Gary Patterson introduced that
Cincinnati. By Hilary Strahota rare species to the Oklahoma
By Tim Polzer Sooners last season en route to
an 11-1 record and Top 10 finish
in the polls.
Front Cover
MARVIN LEWIS PHOTO BY JOHN SOMMERS/ICON SMI
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BY CYNTHIA HOBGOOD
regularly. c Make sure your child is hydrated because at that point they’re already 20
c Fluid breaks should be scheduled before going to practice or a game. minutes behind on being able to hydrate, and
for all practices and become more Give children their own water bottles. that’s getting into a potentially problematic
frequent as the heat/humidity c Make sure your child’s coach has your situation.”
levels rise. contact information. Research conducted by the Gatorade
c Have parent contact information c Make sure your child’s league or team Institute of Sports Science and published
at all games and practices. has an emergency action plan. by the Internal Journal of Sports Medicine
c Have an emergency action plan. [SOURCE: NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINERS’ ASSOCIATION] indicates that young football players begin
practice measurably dehydrated.
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FA
vis
po
BEFORE YOUR TEAM OR CHILD SUITS UP, take a few minutes to learn how each
piece of equipment serves to protect your players. And always follow the manufacturer’s
guidelines to ensure proper fit, use and maintenance of all equipment.
SHOULDER PADS
These pads tend to take the most abuse
during the course of the game, especially
CENTER
PANTS
HEALTH
LINEMAN GLOVES
Designed to protect the hands, knuckles and fingers of both offensive and
defensive linemen. They provide more padding than the receiver gloves.
NECK ROLL
Worn primarily by linebackers and defensive linemen, the neck roll is used to
protect the head from whiplash during straight-on contact.
KNEE PADS
Tucked inside the lower part of the
pants, these pads help absorb contact
with opponents and the ground. Make
SHOES sure they cover the player’s knee caps
Cleats or turf-soled shoes when the knee is flexed.
provide better traction
and help to protect the
foot during play. Leagues
usually regulate the length
of a shoe’s cleat.
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country. The reason? It boils down to one Emergencies ranging from natural disasters to the serious
simple word: Prevention. injuries of players, coaches and spectators can occur
When the inevitable anywhere and at any time. To limit confusion, a
injuries occur, readiness league’s EAP should be the same for every game,
and emergency every practice, every team and every situation.
planning can reduce the Your plan should include
severity of most injuries. information and medical releases
But being ready from all players and coaches,
means more than emergency contact
just understanding numbers for parents and/or
how to treat on-field guardians, methodology
injuries. A youth coach for contacting emergency
or administrator must services, and names and
CENTER
ENHANCEMENT CENTER
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When In Doubt
Axioms help officials make the right call BY BILL LEMONNIER
COACHING CENTER
PLAYERS, COACHES AND FANS WOULD CRINGE if they knew every official THE PASSER HAS THROWN
sometimes doubts a call made during a game. Few non-officials realize the situation THE BALL FORWARD RATHER
happens more than we’d like to admit. That’s precisely why the “Axioms of Football THAN FUMBLING IT.
Officiating” have been developed through the years. These are the principles designed to Any action by the quarterback’s arm
aid officials in getting the call right more times than not. But the Axioms cannot live on moving forward and the ball coming out
paper alone. At their heart lies their mechanics. should be ruled a forward pass. Even if the
First, let’s look at the difference between having a call and having doubt. In most arm is going forward, untouched and the
calls, you’re in good position, you’ve seen the whole play and you simply make the call. QB loses the ball as he tries to pull it back.
HEALTH & SAFETY CENTER
Here, the Axioms The human eye is good enough to see the
do not apply. When full aspect of this motion. Again, ruling
you have primary these fumbles will result in more cheap
responsibility and you turnovers than correct calls.
didn’t see the whole
play – good mechanics IT’S A FUMBLE RATHER THAN
or not – you need to THE RUNNER DOWN.
use the Axioms to Replays show nearly 90 percent of
have a better shot at a the fumble/down situations are fumbles.
correct call. Any chance of getting help from your
Remember crew is taken away when you blow the
when you are not whistle without seeing the ball dead by
the primary official rule. Let the play continue and get help
LEAGUE ENHANCEMENT CENTER
More times than not, the receiver never controlled the ball long enough to do responsibilities. Put yourself in position
something common to the game — run, pass or kick. Make sure a receiver has tucked the to make the call by using sound officiating
ball away with control before ruling a fumble. Often the receiver is outnumbered by the mechanics, rule knowledge and good
defense and has no chance to recover the ball. Make these plays incomplete! common sense. But never give up your
responsibility to make the call!
THE BALL IS ACCIDENTALLY BATTED/KICKED RATHER THAN
INTENTIONALLY BATTED/KICKED. Bill LeMonnier is a Big Ten Conference
Make the bat or kick obvious and intentional for everyone to see, not some little swipe and Arena Football referee and USA
and nick of the ball. Football Officiating Consultant.
www.gilmangear.com
BALLHAWK
Rod Woodson named honorary chairman of Play Football Month
BY HILARY STRAHOTA & TIM POLZER
P
ERENNIAL PRO BOWLER ROD to be successful in football and in life. USA Football Chairman and Pro Football
WOODSON grew up playing in Considering that I went on to a career in the Hall of Famer Jack Kemp, and other
the Police Athletic League (PAL) NFL, youth football obviously played a very former Mississippi football greats attended
of Fort Wayne, Ind. As an NFL player, important part of my life.” the Governor’s press conference on the
Woodson was on the receiving end of 71 Woodson remains active in youth steps of the capitol building. An awards
interceptions. But after 17 pro seasons of football through his two sons. Thirteen- presentation during the New Orleans
stellar secondary play both as a corner year-old Demitrius is in his fourth year of Saints-Indianapolis Colts preseason game
and safety, Rod is now delivering some tackle and 8-year-old Jairus is enjoying his topped off the weekend.
targeted passes of his own – in the form of second season of flag football. As the initiative continues throughout
inspirational and informative messages to “My sons enjoy athletics, and they love the month of September, USA Football
youth football coaches, league personnel playing football,” Woodson says. “It’s been a plans to award more than $500,000
and officials around the country. Woodson great experience for them.” in equipment grants to eligible youth
has volunteered his time and experience to football organizations and provide Play
serve as honorary chairman for this year’s Football Month Celebration Kits to
Play Football Month. youth football teams at no cost. Grant
USA Football, in conjunction with the applications, eligibility requirements and
NFL and NFL Players Association, kicked off kit registration information is available at
the 2006 football season with “The World’s usafootball.com.
Largest Youth Football Celebration.” Play During the NFL preseason, all 32 teams
Football Month showcases how different invited local youth football teams to be part
communities celebrate the start of their of in-stadium celebrations through ticket
seasons and 2006 marks the third year of donations, pre-game activities, halftime
the initiative. Play Football Month officially kicked festivities and off-site events.
Woodson is the perfect spokesperson to off August 25 with the presentation of The During Play Football Month and
lead the best month of the year. He believes Governor’s Cup to Mississippi, selected as throughout the duration of the season, USA
in – and has experienced firsthand – the the nation’s top football state. The project, Football is hosting a weekly photo and video
importance youth football can have in a conducted by The Wharton Sports Business contest on usafootball.com, where youth and
young person’s life. Initiative, compiled a variety of criteria high school football players, coaches and
“I began playing just to spend time with including each state’s per capita percentages parents are encouraged to send in creative
my older brother. By the time I finished, of collegiate and professional football fans, pictures and videos from the season to win
I had been exposed to so many new and number of NFL players from each state, weekly prizes.
different things through my teammates and percentage of high school football players Hilary Strahota, marketing & events
coaches. Different backgrounds. Different and percentage of high school players who coordinator, organizes USA Football events
races. Different religions,” Woodson says. have letters-of-intent to play for NCAA including Play Football Month. To learn more
“PALs introduced me to the structure Division I-A colleges and universities. about getting involved in USA Football events,
of teamwork and the discipline needed Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, contact Hilary at hstrahota@usafootball.com.
“Youth football
obviously played
a very important
part of my life.”
Rod Woodson
Cincinnati. The Marvin Lewis Community Fund supports numerous community Editorial Director
TIM POLZER
programs in the Greater Cincinnati region including Inner-City Youth Football
Designer
Collaborative, helping purchase safe equipment and providing on-site supervision WILLIAM BRIDGEFORTH
for 102 youth football teams.
Traction Media
We urge you to share your experiences, questions and photos with us so we
Editorial Offices
can learn from you and inform others in the process through best practices and 9435 Waterview Road
innovative resources. Dallas, TX 75218
Tractionmedia@aol.com
USA Football wishes you the best of luck this season and hope you enjoy the first
issue of our magazine. Tell us what you think about the magazine, and what you’d like Editorial Department Phone
to see in the future, by writing to Cynthia Hobgood at chobgood@usafootball.com. (972) 896-8006
Custom Publishing
Sincerely, (972) 898-8585
Matteson Bears
Illinois
Mail
addr
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USA Football’s newly designed Web site now offers even more valuable youth football resources. Visit www.usafootball.com for
up-to-date youth football information, playbooks, coaching and league aids and directories.
Coaching Guide
Click “Coaching” for instructional content for youth football coaches focused on
coaching philosophy, offense, defense and special teams including drills, tips and
techniques.
Officiating Center
Click “Officiating” to discover a state-of-the-art resource for officials at all levels. Our nationwide network of respected and well-
trained football officials delivers tools and resources. The content pertains to football officiating with the core elements being rules,
mechanics and philosophy. Officials can ask questions of a credible source about rules, play situations, career success, etc. Recruiting
and mentoring information is provided, along with a listing of recommended clinics and seminars. Features, news and tips will be
added weekly during the season.
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Gary Patterson HEAD COACH
TCU HORNED FROGS
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linebacker (W).
Assignment Breakdown
• The quarterback (QB) can use a
reverse pivot to sell the misdirection
or open to the path of the FB driving to
the gap between the RG and RT
• The HB leads through the 4 hole and
blocks the W linebacker in whatever
direction the defender is moving
• The FB takes the handoff, follows the
path of the HB and cuts opposite the
block of the HB on the W linebacker
LEAGUE ENHANCEMENT CENTER
COACHING SPOTLIGHT:
Todd Casey, Vienna, Va.
All Smiles
Father and son dentist team drill at the office and on
the field for the benefit of all involved BY TIM POLZER few things that rarely change.
“You can never assume they know
anything. You have to approach each
aspect of the game as if they’re just
starting out,” Casey says. “Games are easy.
Games are fun. Practices are tougher.
You have to go in with the idea that you’re
teaching them and challenging them
every day.”
Casey has managed to coach successful
teams without leaving any kids behind.
He has found a way to make every player
feel a part of every team.
“Everybody wants to be a running
back or quarterback. But by stressing
the fundamentals, kids can enjoy
playing every position,” Casey explains.
“In fact, I think you’ll find that many
of the larger kids who may start youth
football as linemen eventually evolve
THE ROOTS OF TODD CASEY’S CONTRIBUTIONS to youth football run deep. Casey, a into quarterbacks and running backs as
dentist in Vienna, Va., need only look to his father and dental practice partner, George, they get older.”
as the person who got him started in youth football and, eventually, coaching. One of Casey’s most cherished youth
Todd began playing youth football in the late ’70s with his father as his coach, and football memories was taking his Steelers
the pair has remained active ever since. After Todd’s playing days were over, he decided to Minnesota to play in last year’s USA
to continue his youth football experience through coaching. Football Classic. The total experience,
Casey coaches the Vienna Steelers in the 110-pound division of the Fairfax County including fundraising efforts and
Youth Football League, an organization serving more than 20 youth sports and reaching out to community sponsors,
recreation clubs in northern Virginia. Casey has coached or co-coached in 13 County created a need for teamwork off the
Championships, six Metropolitan Super Bowls, the 95-pound American FCYFL field. Along the way, Casey said the team
Championship and a national championship game at last year’s USA Football Classic. enjoyed a unique bonding experience
While Casey’s father got him started as a youth player, it’s the joy of helping kids between coaches, players and parents.
learn the game that energizes him as an adult coach. The Caseys’ family affair with youth
“It’s really fun watching the kids evolve. It’s amazing how much they learn football already spans more than 30 years
and change from the first day of practice to the last game,” Casey says. “Their and there looks to be no end in sight —
enthusiasm keeps me going.” Todd’s 5-year-old son, Patrick, already is
Casey’s years of experience coaching seventh and eighth graders has taught him a running wind sprints in the backyard.