3/14/12
Contacts:
Steve Alic, USA Football, 317/489-4417, salic@usafootball.com, twitter.com/usafootball
Clare Graff, NFL, 212/450-2435, clare.graff@nfl.com
NFL PLAYER ENGAGEMENT PARTNERS WITH USA FOOTBALL
USA Football and NFL Player Engagement are partnering to provide a premier athlete character development curriculum for U.S. National Teams in football.
USA Football is the sport’s national governing body in the United States which assembles and manages U.S. National Teams in the sport. The Indianapolis-based organization also is the official youth football development partner of the NFL and each of its 32 teams.
Led by NFL Vice President of Player Engagement TROY VINCENT, a former NFL all-pro defensive back, NFL Player Engagement assists players in reaching their highest potential on and off the field with guidance, support, and resources provided before, during and after their NFL experiences. Through the NFL PREP leadership series, Vincent and his department address high school and youth student-athletes about the importance of academic excellence, character development, and conflict resolution.
NFL PREP curriculums will be presented at all five U.S. National Team Trials this year for U.S. Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 teams. U.S. National Team Trials provide players an opportunity to compete for a roster spot on a national team while strengthening their football skills and character development. Trials include individual position drills, one-on-one and seven-on-seven situations. Each player receives a written evaluation by USA Football’s National Team scouts, all of whom have playing or scouting experience on the NFL or college level.
NFL PREP programs address high school athletes and their parents in frank, open discussions. The talks are delivered by NFL Ambassadors – former NFL players who share advice through their life experiences.
“We are excited to utilize our curriculum in partnership with USA Football to assist in developing leaders in the classroom, on the athletic field and in life,” Vincent said. “Working with student-athletes in their formative early years is important, and our programs aim to help them make the right decisions and mature into high-character young adults.”
“Under Troy’s leadership, NFL PREP delivers critical messages about life which benefit all high school football players and their families,” USA Football Executive Director SCOTT HALLENBECK said. “We are proud to make NFL PREP’s curriculum a key part of our U.S. National Team Trials.”
About USA Football: USA Football, the sport's national governing body in the United States, hosts more than 80 football training events annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners. The independent non-profit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its players and each of the league’s 32 teams. Indianapolis-based USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competition and provides $1 million annually in equipment grants and subsidizes youth league volunteer background checks. Endowed by the NFL and NFL Players Association in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.