KILLEEN-COVE CHIEFS REGISTER FOR USA FOOTBALL’S HEADS UP FOOTBALL PROGRAM Contact information: Dale Seitter, Killeen-Cove Chiefs, (210) 870-8579 The Killeen-Cove Chiefs youth football club is committed to ensure a positive experience and advance player safety this fall by providing league-wide coaching education and teaching resources that benefit players, parents and coaches through USA Football’s Heads Up Football program. The Killeen-Cove Chiefs are a member club of the Texas Youth Football Association. Indianapolis-based USA Football is the sport’s national governing body and partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and sport to establish important standards rooted in education for the betterment of young athletes. The Chiefs represent more than 120 players and 30 coaches throughout the Killeen, Copperas Cove and Fort Hood area. All Chiefs coaches will be trained in Heads Up Football techniques before leading their teams this season. Head coaches and assistant coaches will complete USA Football’s nationally accredited Level 1 Youth Coach Certification Course, which includes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concussion recognition and response; proper helmet and shoulder pad fitting; hydration and heat preparedness information from the Korey Stringer Institute; and Heads Up Tackling techniques for safer play and stronger fundamentals. The Chiefs will appoint a Player Safety Coach, who will be trained by USA Football at an upcoming Player Safety Coach clinic. Player Safety Coaches work with league commissioners, coaches, parents and players throughout the season to provide on-site instruction and mentoring to ensure best practices learned through Heads Up Football are used. “The game of football is changing, both on and off of the field. It is our job as youth coaches to adapt to those changes and better prepare our young athletes for success in the future” said Dale Seitter, Executive Director of the Killeen-Cove Chiefs. “Change is a part of life and it is never too early or late to learn that lesson”. “The health and safety of every young player is our No. 1 priority,” USA Football Executive Director SCOTT HALLENBECK said. “We are proud to have the Chiefs join us in leading America’s youth football community through Heads Up Football. Together, with direction from leaders in medicine and athletics, we are establishing important standards for the sake of our children.” Adopted in 2014 by youth leagues and high schools on a national level, Heads Up Football is composed of six primary elements: Coaching education All coaches within a youth program are trained to teach the game’s fundamentals by completing USA Football’s nationally accredited Level 1 Youth Coach Certification Course. Equipment fitting Coaches, parents and players are taught proper helmet and shoulder pad fitting. Concussion recognition and response Coaches learn and are assessed on CDC concussion recognition and response through USA Football’s Level 1 Youth Coach Certification Course. Parents and players also are taught CDC-approved concussion protocols. Heat and hydration Coaches, parents and players learn heat preparedness and hydration safety measures from lead experts at the Korey Stringer Institute. Player Safety Coach Appointed by each participating youth organization, this individual ensures compliance with Heads Up Football’s player safety protocols, including coach certification and leading safety clinics for coaches, parents and players. Heads Up Tackling USA Football’s Heads Up Tackling technique, endorsed by leaders in medicine and sport, teaches players to keep their heads up for safer play and stronger fundamentals. Some of the medical and sport backers of USA Football’s Heads Up Football program include: Amateur Athletic Union American College of Sports Medicine American Football Coaches Assoc. American Medical Society for Sports Med. Arizona Coaches Association Atlantic Coast Conference Big 12 Conference Big Ten Conference Boys & Girls Clubs of America Indiana Football Coaches Association Korey Stringer Institute Maxwell Football Club Michigan H.S. Football Coaches Assoc. Minnesota Football Coaches Association National Athletic Trainers Association NATA Research & Education Foundation National Fed. of State High School Assoc. National Football League NFL Alumni Association NFL Head, Neck & Spine Committee Nat’l Interscholastic Athletic Admin. Assoc. National Parent Teacher Association National Police Athletic League North Carolina Coaches Association Northern Va. Football Coaches Assoc. Pac-12 Conference Pop Warner Little Scholars Pro Football Athletic Trainers Society Sport Safety International Sports & Fitness Industry Association United Youth Football League About USA Football: Indianapolis-based USA Football (usafootball.com) is the sport’s national governing body, leading the game’s development for youth, high school and other amateur players. The independent nonprofit partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and sport to establish important standards rooted in education. USA Football advances coaching education and player skill development for safer play and positive experiences through athletics.