How USA Football supports coaches year-round
There’s hardly a more honorable title than “coach.”
It’s a five-letter word that elicits respect everywhere from the football field and the weight room to film room and the classroom.
Most coaches don’t sign up to merely win games and teach Xs and Os; rather, they work tirelessly to mold young people and instill values.
Coaching is as much a vocation as it is a hobby or profession. But coaches can’t do it alone. They require the help, assistance and cooperation of players, parents, administrators and more.
USA Football appreciates the vital role that coaches play in the sport and has developed numerous resources, programs and events to help support coaches at all levels each step of the way.
Here’s a rundown of USA Football resources that coaches can take advantage of to provide a better experience for their players, their parents and themselves.
Certification
Being USA Football-certified is something that coaches at the youth, middle school and high school football level can benefit from.
“You just can't put anybody out there to be coaching kids,” said Tim Lester, who runs a youth football league in Georgia. “USA Football has created a platform that everyone falls back on. ‘Are you certified by USA Football?’ Everyone wants to know that."
Heads Up Football helps equip coaches with knowledge of concussion recognition and response; heat and hydration; sudden cardiac arrest and proper equipment fitting.
Learn more about USA Football certification here.
Additionally, USA Football also offers the following tools for coaches:
USA Football Streaming Service
The USA Football Streaming Service is a robust video library of some of the sport’s top coaches breaking down a variety of topics in great details, from Xs and Os and program growth to position-specific drills and techniques.
Use a 7-day free trial to begin learning from top coaches such as:
- Urban Meyer
- Gus Malzahn
- Rex Ryan
- Andrew Coverdale
- Bob Wylie
- Steve Specht
USA Football grants
Each year, USA Football awards nearly $2 million in grants toward the purchase of everything from helmets and tackling equipment to new FieldTurf fields. Learn more about the USA Football grants program here.
USA Football Courses
USA Football’s courses provide immersive, interactive learning opportunity’s on a number of topics. Led by some of the industry’s leading experts, these courses are both engaging and informative. Some recently released courses include:
- Positive Coaching: Communication (with Positive Coaching Alliance)
- Practice Smart (with Tony Dungy)
- Dynamic Warm-up, Movement Prep and Mobility (with Parisi Speed School)
Coaches’ Notes
USA Football’s Coaches’ Notes provide high school football coaches with thorough, in-depth looks at concepts, schemes, program development and more.
Sign up for a 7-day free trial and get started today.
Coach and Coordinator podcast
Listen to some of the best football coaches in the country during your morning commute. The USA Football Coach and Coordinator podcast, with host Keith Grabowski, taps into the thoughts of some of the greatest football minds in the profession.
The podcast is available on both Sound Cloud and iTunes.
The U.S. National Team
The U.S. National team provides a tremendous development opportunity for both coaches and their athletes.
For coaches, it’s a unique chance to learn from peers across the country.
“The networking with coaches, learning how these guys do things throughout the nation, has been very valuable to me,” said Under-18 National Team assistant Casey Taylor.
Coaches can get started by applying to coach at a local Regional Development Camp.
USA Football 7on7
Success in the summer can lay the foundation for success in the fall. USA Football’s 7on7 program gives high school football coaches an opportunity to compete with their high school teams at a high level to better prepare for the upcoming season.
The program is built by high school coaches and for high school coaches, and events are held around the country.
Fundraising
Running a successful football program isn’t always an inexpensive endeavor. USA Football has partnered with several leading fundraising programs to help coaches generate more resources to help sustain and grow their programs.