NFL Youth Football Fund

About the Program

Held annually in Canton, Ohio, the NFL/USA Football Youth Football Summit includes interactive sessions focused on football skills, health and safety, and off-field development. More than 100 youth and high school football coaches and administrators nationwide are selected to participate in educational seminars, chalk-talks and roundtable discussions chaired by former NFL players and coaches, youth medical experts and motivational speakers. Several football experts and NFL greats discuss topics vital to the continued success of youth and high school football. Leaders in the field of sport medicine and sport psychology address injury prevention and heat and hydration practices, demonstrations on how to handle coach-player relationship issues, and tips on inspiring youth and high school football players to achieve their highest potential.

Who Can Apply

High school football coaches may register for an opportunity to attend the NFL/USA Football Youth Football Summit by entering a nomination and essay contest conducted by the NFL and USA Football. Coaches submit online essays in which they write about their coaching careers, commitment to youth and coaching philosophies. The public also may nominate deserving high school football coaches to participate in the Summit. Blue-ribbon panels, consisting of local state representatives, review the essays and coaches are chosen to serve as their state’s delegate at the Summit.

USA Football also hosts a National Leadership Forum as part of the Summit to discuss best practices on coaching education and successful youth league operations. After conducting State Leadership Forums involving hundreds of youth league commissioners throughout the country during the winter and spring, USA Football selects one delegate from each of the State Forums to take part in the Summit’s National Leadership Forum. These youth football representatives are selected to attend the Summit

Former NFL players currently coaching youth or high school football also are invited to attend the Summit.

2010 Important Dates

The 2010 NFL/USA Football Youth Football Summit took place from July 20-23 in Canton, OH. Visit www.usafootball.com in February 2011 to nominate your high school football state delegate for the 2011 NFL/USA Football Youth Football Summit.