For the first time, youth football coaches have two options to earn their USA Football Youth Tackle Certification — online and in-person.

Coaches can master the techniques at home through the online version, or they can get hands-on training and ask questions to an on-site USA Football Master Trainer.

To view a list of clinic sites and dates, click here.

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Prominent coaches at the collegiate and NFL levels have praised the youth tackle certification program. 

In a letter to youth football organizations nationwide, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said, “Completing your USA Football Certification further demonstrates your exceptional commitment to your players, their parents, your program and our game. As coaches, we are called to teach and inspire our athletes, helping each of them to attain their potential on and off the field. This begins with us being prepared to lead them.”

Meanwhile, Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, “This is a technique sport, and the technique they’re teaching at USA Football is huge … I can tell you everything my youth coach taught me to this day, so it’s so important that our youth coaches teach the right things, teach the proper fundamentals.”

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The certification will include the following components:

Contact

Principles of blocking and defeating blocks

You’ll enhance your knowledge of fundamental skills for blocking and defeating blocks with Scott Peters, who originated the USA Football Tip of the Spear Contact System. You’ll learn:

• BLAST: Base, Long, Ascend, Square, Triangulate
• BRIDGE: An overview of enhanced blocking techniques
• PILLAR: An overview of skills to defeat blocks

 

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Core techniques of proper shoulder tackling

Coaches will master the methodology behind a safer and better way to tackle with Rocky Seto, a former USC and Seattle Seahawks assistant coach. You’ll learn:

• Form tackling and leverage
• Shoulder tackling drills
• Thigh-and-drive and thigh-and-roll techniques

 

Critical coaching foundations

Learn about the self-coaching tool SPPAAT and the ability to identify risky techniques. You’ll also learn:

• SPPAAT: A guide to help players improve and self-coach
• Dangerous drills: Identifying drills with high risk and low value
• Athletic principles: From posture to physiology to movement

 

Non-Contact

Youth Tackle Certification includes a variety of non-contact components. Here’s an overview:

Concussion recognition and response: Education about concussion awareness and player protection

Heat preparedness and hydration: Targeted instruction puts the emphasis on prevention, recognition and basic treatment of athletes, with best practices for heat and hydration safety at all levels.

Sudden cardiac arrest: Learn how to put procedures in place to quickly react in the event of cardiac events, which are the No. 1 cause of death for children and teens during exercise. This includes instruction from the University of Washington Harborview Medical Center.

Proper equipment fitting: Equipment that doesn’t fit or isn’t worn right can increase players’ injury risks. Every coach will learn how to properly fit helmets and shoulder pads.

Coaching 101: Learn the role of coaches, the keys to communication and how to plan practices for skill development. 

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