NFL Youth Football Fund

About the Program

ATLAS (Athletes Training & Learning to Avoid Steroids) and ATHENA (Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise & Nutrition Alternatives) are multi-component programs providing healthy sports nutrition and strength-training as alternatives to use of alcohol, illicit and performance-enhancing drugs. These nationally-acclaimed, gender-specific steroid and drug education programs are proven to reduce health-harming behaviors in male and female high school athletes. ATLAS is for males, ATHENA is for females.

The NFL ATLAS & ATHENA Schools program consists of one full day of training for coaches and selected student athlete leaders to learn how to implement the ATLAS and ATHENA programs. During the sport season, ATLAS & ATHENA are incorporated into the usual team activities. Each 45-minute session (10 sessions for ATLAS and 8 sessions for ATHENA) is interactive and includes educational games, role-playing and mock public service campaigns. The programs focus on the here and now, rather than the long-term harmful effects of substance use. Athletes learn how to achieve their goals using state-of-the-art sports nutrition and strength training and develop skills to avoid adopting unhealthy behaviors.

The NFL ATLAS & ATHENA Schools program currently is implemented in 14 NFL markets and reaches 36,000 high school student athletes and 1,200 coaches each year.

For more information regarding the ATLAS & ATHENA programs, please click here.

Who Can Apply

NFL Teams Only

Important Dates

Training events at NFL team facilities typically occur in the months leading up to each high school sports season (spring & fall).

Award Amount

Up-to $10,000 to support the NFL Atlas and Athena Training.