INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Feb. 19, 2015)– New research shows an Indianapolis-based program is making football a safer sport for all children.
Research released this week from USA Football shows the Heads Up Program teaching proper tackling fundamentals is working.
The study shows youth leagues that adopted the program had a 76 percent reduction in injuries.
More than 2,000 young athletes from Indiana and three other states participated in the three year study.
Doctor Pat Kersey is the Medical Director for USA Football. Doctor Kersey says the research is monumental for all football players.
“Those programs, youth programs 6-14 and this year in highs school, had followed and undergoing Heads Up Football, which includes coaching certification, equipment fitting, concussion awareness, heat and dehydration. A very exciting statistic,” said. Dr. Pat Kersey.
The study also found more than ninety-percent of youth players did not sustain any injury.
Adds Pat I think it`s going to change policy and going to make sport start to shift to more oversight, not in a negative way but in a positive way that coaching education works, we love volunteer coaches but let`s equip them to have the right skill set. 09
Nearly 800 schools across the country took part in the program last year.
Adds Ralph Reiff with St. Vincent Sports Performance, “I think it`s going to change policy and going to make the sport start to shift to more oversight, not in a negative way but in a positive way. Coaching education works. We love volunteer coaches, but let`s equip them to have the right skill set.”
Click here for more information on USA Football’s Heads Up Program.
