Cv1.

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LibertyAd.indd 7 11/17/08 4:01:14 PM
 contents issue 8 • winter 2008-09

inside slants features

2 Kickoff with Scott Hallenbeck 4 USA Football: 11 Jonathan Ogden
7 “I Played” Heisman Helper Joins USA Football
USA Football Member Charlie Ward
15 Meet a USA Football Staffer: Damone Jones
Teaching a Game He Loves 12 Committed
23 Meet a USA Football Board Member: Jon Butler By Steve Alic More than two dozen USA Football
30 Football Facts, Stats & Figures members contribute to new advisory
8 Coaching Country committees
32 What Football Taught Me Top Prep Coaches from Nine States By Rashad Mulla
Sgt. Tommy Rieman, United States Army Lead USA Football’s 2009 Junior
National Team 28 World’s top national
By Steve Alic
teams eager for
Canton journey
Six nations earn berths for
eight-country IFAF Junior World
Championship field
By Steve Alic

coaching

14 Game Changer: USA Football’s Coaching Education

By Rashad Mulla
16 Takeaway-Giveaway with Tom & Larry
By Tom Bass & Larry Canard
17 “What If?”: In-Game Coaching Scenarios
18 Getting an Angle on the Ball Carrier
By Tim Polzer

health & Fitness

19 What Football Has Taught My Son: Joe Laurinaitis

By Nicole Lukosius

league enhancement

20 Celebrating Your Season, Regardless of Record

21 USA Football Regional Managers
22 Meet a USA Football Member: Chad Blomgren

officiating
USA Football conducted two Player
Academies in 2008 (above). The three-day 24 Off-season training important for officials
camps for players aged 9-14 will be held in By Dave McMahon
at least 10 cities nationwide this summer. 26 Season in Rewind
Photo by Shawn Hubbard By Rashad Mulla
27 Quick-Hitter Grid
Thoughts from USA Football Officiating Members
Front Cover
Photo by Paul Pollard, inset photo by Sporting News/ZUMA Press/Icon SMI

01 Contents.indd 1 11/17/08 4:02:10 PM

 Kickoff

Dear Readers,

Like a favorite meal, after completing a football season, we sit back, reflect and appreciate
how great it was. usafootball.com
Football people don’t sit for long, though. You – the coaches, league administrators and
game officials who make this team-first value-filled game our country’s favorite sport – are Chairman
Jack Kemp
already working toward next year. And USA Football
is committed to be your lead blocker. Executive Director
Scott Hallenbeck
Together we savor the sound of buckling chinstraps
to prepare for our greatest year to date. USA Football
will host more exciting training events than ever before
Usa football
in 2009; almost 120 of them, in fact.
Coming in ’09 is America’s first national team in
editorial staff
the sport composed of high school seniors (pgs. 8-10)
Managing Editor
taking part in football’s first world championship with
Steve Alic
national teams from four continents in Canton, Ohio
(pg. 28). Contributors:
Tom Bass, Larry Canard,
This issue of USA Football Magazine holds insight Nicole Lukosius, Dave McMahon,
and faces of dozens of USA Football members – a Rasad Mulla, Tim Polzer
membership which now stretches across all 50 states
and Washington, D.C. Among this proud football To contact USA Football: 
crowd is 1993 Heisman Trophy Winner Charlie Ward, (703) 918-0007
who today is a high school head football coach in Houston.
Also, learn about the 27 members on pages 12-13 who comprise USA Football’s three new
committees, established to help steer our programs and resources to best serve you.
Find out from the dad of Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis (pg. 19) what football has
taught his son. We’re also proud to share the football story of Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran traction media staff
Sgt. Tommy Rieman (pg. 32).
Beyond these pages, USA Football’s regional managers and office staff is better equipped Publisher
Rudy J. Klancnik
than ever to serve you as we’ve expanded our regions from six to eight (pg. 21). Contact your
regional manager and ask how he can help you gain an edge or strengthen your league. And Editorial Director
Tim Polzer
you’re only a toll-free call (1-877-5-FOOTBALL) or a couple of mouse clicks away from our
Designer
non-profit office at usafootball.com.
william Bridgeforth
Here’s to a tremendous and happy 2009 for you, your family and the game that inspires us
while building tomorrow’s leaders. Traction Media
Editorial Offices
Sincerely, 7115 Tartan Trl.
Garland, TX 75044
Tractionmedia@aol.com

Editorial Department Phone

(972) 896-8006
Custom Publishing
Scott Hallenbeck (972) 898-8585
USA Football Executive Director
USA Football Magazine is published by Traction
Media, LLC©. All rights reserved. Traction Media
does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Publisher
assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited
manuscripts or art. No part of this magazine may
be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without the
written permission of the editor.

2 USA Football Magazine

02 Letter.indd 2 11/17/08 4:02:31 PM

3.indd 7 11/17/08 4:01:36 PM
 Sporting News/ZUMA Press/Icon SMI

04 Ward Feature.indd 4 11/17/08 4:02:42 PM

 USA Football Member Charlie Ward
Teaching a Game He Loves By Steve Alic

U
SA Football members reside in all 50 states.
Differentiated by their backgrounds, they are
united by a passion for America’s favorite sport.
They are auto mechanics, doctors, plumbers,
business owners and, uh, (ahem) … Heisman Trophy winners.
Charlie Ward, winner of the 1993 Heisman Trophy and former
Florida State University quarterback, employs his USA Football
coaching membership as varsity
head coach of the Westbury
Christian Wildcats in Houston. “USA Football
A superbly gifted athlete
in several sports, his present
has given me
calling took him by surprise. an opportunity
“I didn’t think I’d be a coach,
but I’m enjoying it – it’s been very
to learn how to
rewarding,” said Ward, who just put together a
finished his first season as a head
game plan and a
football coach after serving as an
assistant in 2007. Ward spent time practice plan.”
on usafootball.com last January
to purchase his membership and
struck a friendship with USA Football Regional Manager Deno
Campbell. “I never thought I’d be able to teach someone what
I did, but God gave me the opportunity to do so and share my

experiences with young guys.”
In addition to winning the Heisman and helping the
Seminoles earn their first national championship in 1993,
the Thomasville, Ga., native was drafted as a pitcher by the
Milwaukee Brewers (1993) and New York Yankees (1994) and
is an accomplished tennis player. Ward, however, made his
mark as a professional athlete during a 12-year NBA career. He
was drafted in the first round (No. 26) of the 1994 NBA Draft
by the New York Knicks, led by legendary coach Pat Riley.
A fan of all sports, Ward points out football’s attributes
faster than his early ’90s quarterback draws.
Paul Pollard
“No sport beats football when it comes to teamwork,” he said.
“If one guy is off, the whole team is off. It’s like your body – if
your thumb hurts, your whole body hurts; it’s all connected.”
The son of a football, basketball and golf coach (Charlie
Ward, Sr.) and pupil of Florida State’s legendary Bobby
Bowden, Ward values the coaching training he’s gained from
USA Football.

The Heisman Trophy won by USA Football Coaching Member Charlie Ward resides in the public library of his hometown,
Thomasville, Ga. Ward’s comments about what winning the Heisman has meant to him:

“It’s a prestigious award and it was great to have such a good

team around me which helped me to win it. At the time you win
that honor, it doesn’t mean as much right then as it does over the
course of your life. When I go to a Heisman event now, that’s how
I’m recognized, as a Heisman Trophy winner. It’s provided me a
number of opportunities. It’s been a blessing.”

04 Ward Feature.indd 5 11/17/08 4:02:51 PM

 “USA Football has given me an opportunity to learn how
to put together a game plan and a practice plan,” he said. “I
gather information from the website and the membership
web page. I go there to get insight from coaches who’ve done
it before.
“And there are a lot of perks. We got our Captain’s
Pack for the kids – that’s big for their morale. Our team
captains have a USA Football “C” patch on their jerseys.
We’re using the helmet stickers we received in it, too,
so the resources I’ve gained are valuable as well. My
Ray Stubblebine/Icon SMI
Heisman-like USA Football Members
Is there another Heisman Trophy winner lurking among
USA Football members?
A scan of our member list
revealed members named Marcus
Allen and Tim Brown. Brown, a
youth coach in the Mid-Maryland
League in Mount Airy, Md., said that
having the same name as a Heisman
Trophy winner was always a positive
thing, before adding, “How do you
know I am not the real Tim Brown?”
Tim Brown, 1987 Heisman Trophy Winner
6 USA Football Magazine
04 Ward Feature.indd 6
involvement [with USA Football] is helping me learn.”
Whether or not you’ve won a Heisman Trophy, Ward
recommends every coach to join USA Football’s huddle.
“The training at the coaching schools and the DVDs
offered online are backed by some of the best minds in
football that you probably couldn’t get elsewhere without
having to pay a lot of money,” said Ward. “These things help
you teach how to block and tackle, how to play positions you
never played. And you get a chance to meet other coaches, too,
and talk football. That gives you an edge.”
Did You Know?
Charlie Ward was contacted by the Kansas City
Chiefs on Day Two of the 1994 NFL Draft to learn if
he’d be interested in backing up eventual Hall of Fame
quarterback Joe Montana. Ward could not commit
to the NFL until learning where he’d be selected in
the NBA Draft two months later. When the New
York Knicks made him their first-round pick (No. 26
overall), he decided to play pro basketball.
Charlie Ward and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers
standout running back Warrick Dunn were roommates
while playing for Florida State in 1993.
Ward and Dunn, then a senior and a
freshman, respectively, established a
friendship when Dunn needed it most.
The freshman’s mother had recently
been shot and killed in the line of
duty as a police officer. Dunn recently
shared his thoughts about Ward with
Warrick Dunn
USA Football Magazine:
“At that particular time in my life I
needed someone who could help me keep
it together. I was dealing with a lot. He took
me under his wing and really just taught
me the little things like being a professional
and being humble. Just the way he treated
people and how he accepted everyone on the
team really rubbed off on me. He taught me
to always be your best. 
“I think he’d be an excellent coach. He’ll
teach discipline, technique. He is going to have
a sound football team that is going to execute
and play well and he will teach them to be men
and the right way to play the game.” 
11/17/08 4:03:02 PM
 USA Football’s national “I Played” campaign has reached more than 100 million Americans through television coverage on CBS,
ESPN, FOX, NBC and NFL Network this season. Since “I Played” was kicked off on August 3 during the NBC telecast of the NFL’s
Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, several hundred thousand usafootball.com unique visitors have read or submitted an “I Played”
story. To share your football story or to read those sent to USA Football, visit usafootball.com. Below are excerpts of recent “I H
Played” story submissions.

Nick Garcia Jestin Samson Robyn Carbonara

Volunteer Firefighter
& Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT)
McCordsville, Ind.
I started playing football when I was
in the fifth grade. It has always been a
passion. By playing the game through
high school, I got the opportunity to
learn how to work as a team and build
friendships and bonds.
I carried this with me when
I joined the Marine Corps. I
remembered the three-a-days in high
school and the conditioning practices.
My high school football memories
inspired me and helped me get
through boot camp. After serving my
term, I moved to Indiana where I had
the opportunity to play semi-pro ball
for a few years.
The game gave me an appreciation
for life and the freedom that we all
enjoy in this wonderful country.
Traveling from town to town in
our own vehicles in a caravan and
taking in the best of football in the
Midwest – these are memories I will
never forget.
Football taught me that we are
as strong as we choose to be and we
can accomplish anything we put our
minds to.
College Student
Lake Forest, Calif.
“Do not let what you cannot do
interfere with what you can do.”
-John Wooden
Being visually impaired, I applied
Wooden’s phrase in whatever I do.
Football has taught me that anything
is possible and anyone’s dreams can
come true if one puts forth the effort.
After informing my family that I
wanted to play football for my high
school (El Toro High School in Lake
Forest, Calif., 45 miles south of Los
Angeles), I trained for the sport.
After six months of training, I
was ready to speak to varsity head
coach Jake Haley. Coach Haley and
his staff agreed that I could play
and I was assigned to right guard –
this was all during my senior year.
Coach Steve Hohl, my offensive line
coach, came up with a plan where
the center would give me a direction
such as, “on, in or out” to direct my
blocks. I attended every practice
with the goal to play in a game. That
wish came true. I got to play in a
PAT and our last offensive series. It
was so amazing to hear the crowd
rise up to chant my name and feel
my teammates’ support.
Administrative Assistant
Elizabeth, N.J.
I was a tomboy growing up.
Football was something that I never got
to play with an organized team, except
for flag football when I was 11 years
old. I always played tackle football in
the yard with my brother and the other
kids in the neighborhood.
When I finished college, I moved to
New York City. I soon found out that I
had Type I Diabetes – insulin-dependent
diabetes. The symptoms never showed
up until I stopped participating in sports.
My doctors believed that I probably had
diabetes since I was very young.
I started exercising as much as I
did when I was in college and high
school. I took up long-distance
running and found it mind-clearing.
Soon after my first marathon, I was on
a Web site for the Washington Redskins.
They were advertising Washington’s
“other” football team, a women’s tackle
football team. There were other women
that loved football as much as I did? I
thought, “If they can do it, so can I.”
I have now been playing women’s
professional football for two years.
Always go after your dreams, no
matter what they are, no matter what
your physical attributes.

07 I Played.indd 7 11/17/08 4:03:19 PM

 Top Prep Coaches from Nine States Lead
USA Football’s 2009 Junior National Team
By Steve Alic

M ore than 1.13 million young men play high school football in the United States.
Forty-five of them will play on USA Football’s 2009 Junior National Team.
Ten men will coach them.
Led by Chuck Kyle of Cleveland St. Ignatius High School, Team USA’s coaching
staff possesses more than 1,500 prep victories, 31 state championships and 155 seasons
of high school head coaching experience. More than 30 of their players have played in
the NFL and hundreds of others have advanced to college football.
“I really feel honored to be part of this tremendous group of coaches and
lead it,” said Kyle, an English teacher who has guided his Wildcats to three
“National Championship” seasons (USA Today 1989, ’93; National Prep
Poll 1993, ’95) and nine Ohio large-school state titles in the past 20
seasons. “All of these men bring a litany of accolades, but there’s far more
to them than awards and win totals.  
“I’m most impressed – and proud – of how these coaches challenge
and guide their teams to reach their potential as student-athletes
and young men. They share uncommon abilities to prepare, inspire
and connect with their players.”
USA Football’s Junior National Team is America’s first in the
sport composed of top high school football student-athletes from
the country’s 2009 graduating class. The team will compete
among an eight-nation field spanning four continents in the
2009 International Federation of American Football (IFAF)
Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio’s historic Fawcett
Stadium.
Team USA’s 10-man staff features two offensive line coaches to
quickly prepare blocking schemes for varying defensive fronts with
two or three days of rest between its three games in Canton.
Shawn Wood / Studio 7

Head Coach Chuck Kyle

USA Football Junior National Team

08 USACoaches.indd 8 11/19/08 10:58:11 AM

 CHUCK KYLE
Cleveland St. Ignatius High
School, Head Coach
Kyle became his high
school alma mater’s head
coach in 1983 and owns a
258-57-1 (.818) record and
a state playoff ledger of
51-11 (.823). St. Ignatius’s
nine Division I state titles
under Kyle are the most of
any Ohio school since the
state’s playoff format began
in 1972. The Wildcats have
advanced to Ohio’s state
playoffs in each of the past
21 seasons.
STEVE SPECHT
Cincinnati St. Xavier
High School, Defensive
Coordinator
Specht took over as
head coach for the Bombers
in 2003 and has quickly
earned two Ohio Division I
Coach of the Year honors
(’05, ’07). In his six years
in leading the Bombers’
football program, Specht
has attained a sparkling
55-9 (.859) record and two
Shawn Wood / Studio 7
large-school Ohio state
championships (’05, ’07).
08 USACoaches.indd 9
GARY SWENSON
West Des Moines (Iowa)
Valley High School,
Offensive Coordinator
A head varsity football
coach in Iowa since 1976,
Swenson owns a career
coaching record of 265-85
(.757). Swenson, inducted
into the Iowa Football
Coaches Hall of Fame (1993),
has led his teams to a state
playoff berth in each of the
past 22 seasons en route to
four state championships,
including three with Valley
High School (’02, ’03, ’05).
TOM BAINTER
Bothell (Wash.) High
School, Running Backs
Bothell High’s head coach
for the past eight seasons,
Bainter has directed his
Seattle-area program to
state championship games in
2006 and 2007. Having just
completed his 12th season
as a high school head coach,
Bainter has earned King
County’s Coach of the Year
honor four times. Bothell
H.S. has claimed four of its
conference’s past nine titles.
MARCUS BOYLES
Wayne County (Miss.) High
School, Wide Receivers
A veteran of 16 seasons
as a high school head coach,
Boyles has guided his teams
to five state championships
– three of those five with his
Wayne County War Eagles.
A high school head coach
of current Washington
Redskins quarterback Jason
Campbell [Taylorsville
(Miss.) H.S.], Boyles has a
Magnolia State prep head
coaching record of 184-21
(.898).
ED CROSON
Lake Balboa (Calif.)
Birmingham High School,
Offensive Line
In 2000, Croson inherited a
Birmingham program that was
a combined 3-17 from 1998-99
and had not captured its
league title since 1969. Croson
proceeded to lead the school
to league championships in
2000, ’01, ’03, ’06 and ’07. The
Patriots earned Los Angeles City
titles in 2002, ’04, ’06 and ’07,
finishing 2007 in the USA Today
“Super 25” national rankings.
JEREMY GOLD
Ann Arbor (Mich.) Pioneer
High School, Defensive Line
Team USA’s youngest
coach holds 11 seasons of
experience on collegiate and
high school levels. Gold has
served as defensive line coach
at Wayne State University
(2002) and Grand Valley State
University (2003-04), helping
lead GVSU to a Division II
NCAA National Championship
in 2003. USA Football’s Gold
is the brother of Ian Gold,
the former Denver Broncos
linebacker.
FRANK LENTI
Chicago Mount Carmel High
School, Offensive Line
In 25 years as Mount
Carmel’s head coach, Lenti has
led the Caravan to nine Illinois
state championships and 13
state title game appearances.
Lenti, one of two Team USA
offensive line coaches (Ed
Croson), was the prep head
coach of current Philadelphia
Eagles quarterback Donovan
McNabb and has led Mount
Carmel to 23 consecutive
state playoff berths.
CHRIS MERRITT
Miami Christopher
Columbus High School,
Defensive Backs
The Indiana University
alum has led his Explorers
to district titles in 2001, ’03,
’04, ’05 and ’07, including
undefeated regular seasons in
’05 and ’07. An assistant coach
in the upcoming 2009 Under
Armour All-American Game,
Merritt was a head football
coach in Germany for four
years, earning three Euro Bowl
Championships and a 51-12-2
(.800) record.
ALLEN WILSON
Dallas Carter High School,
Linebackers
Wilson owns a career
head coaching mark of
226-78-4 (.740). He led John
Tyler H.S., located in Tyler,
Texas, to the state’s Class
5A State Championship in
1994 and directed Paris
(Texas) H.S. to the 4A State
Championship in 1988. A
17-time district coach of the
year, Wilson earned Texas’
AP High School Coach of the
Year honor in 1989 and ’95.
11/17/08 4:03:47 PM
 COACH POSITION HIGH SCHOOL
Chuck Kyle Head Coach Cleveland St. Ignatius
Steve Specht Defensive Coordinator Cincinnati St. Xavier
Gary Swenson Offensive Coordinator West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley
Tom Bainter Running Backs Bothell (Wash.)
Donovan McNabb on Marcus Boyles Wide Receivers Wayne County (Miss.)
Frank Lenti Ed Croson Offensive Line Lake Balboa (Calif.) Birmingham
“Coach Lenti was a great coach who Jeremy Gold Defensive Line Ann Arbor (Mich.) Pioneer
taught all Frank Lenti Offensive Line Chicago Mount Carmel
of us how Chris Merritt Defensive Backs Miami Christopher Columbus
to play the Allen Wilson Linebackers Dallas Carter
game in
the purest
form. He
taught us USA Football Magazine recently reached
to outwork three of the more than 30 former high school
others, to players of USA Football’s Junior National
support our Team coaches who went on to NFL careers.
teammates, and to have pride in ourselves
and our school.

Chris Hovan on Chuck Kyle

“If I were asked to be a part of a national
team competing against the world’s
“Listen, don’t talk. If he is coaching, you listen. Just take it
best football teams, I would cherish that
all in because the man is a
opportunity. First, it would be an honor to be
wealth of knowledge. He’s a
considered one of the best in the country.
great coach who cares about
Second, to be able to compete for your
his players and is pretty much
country against the best in the world would
the best you are going to find
be great. The pride and support of the whole
in this sport.”
country would be an adrenaline rush.”
– Tampa Bay Buccaneers
– Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Donovan McNabb, who played under defensive end Chris Hovan on Chuck Kyle, who he played for at
Frank Lenti at Chicago Mount Carmel H.S. Cleveland St. Ignatius H.S.

Jason Campbell on Marcus Boyles

“Coach Boyles is the type of coach who will get the best out of you.
He really helped me improve as a player and he will do the same for
these players. He is the type of coach who respects you as a person
and expect s that same respect in return.
“If I were in high school again, I would play for the U.S. National
team. I’d want to go up agains t some of the best players in the world
and show what I can do agains t that competition.”

– Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell, who played under

Marcus Boyles at
Taylorsville (Miss.) H.S.

10 USA Football Magazine

08 USACoaches.indd 10 11/19/08 4:33:08 PM

 USA Football Shop
making a difference
Interested in a one-man USA Football Coaching or Officiating
School from your favorite chair? Well, dream it and you can do it.
Whether you’re seeking coaching
resources or the latest in football apparel,
enter the electric huddle at USA Football
Shop (shop.usafootball.com). Here
you’ll find USA Football’s revolutionary
Coaches Handbook, a library of 11 USA
Football coaching and officiating DVDs –
produced in conjunction with American
Football Monthly Magazine – and more.
Damon Huntzberry of Smithsburg,
Md., owns his own construction
company, but still finds time to
coach kids in grades 5-8. He was
looking for something new to add
to his practice plan, so he bought
DVDs on practice planning,
fundamentals and drills, coaching
offense and coaching defense.
Jonathan Ogden
Joins USA Football
By Nicole Lukosius
Jonathan Ogden may not be out on the
football field every Sunday anymore, but
America’s favorite sport is still a big part
of who he is.
Still inspired by a game he’s loved all his
life, Ogden recently joined USA Football in a
spokesperson role.
“I’m excited to join the USA Football
family,” Ogden said at the time of his
announcement. “Playing this game for
more than 20 years, it opened doors
to life-long friendships, a tremendous
education, a Super Bowl ring and more.
“But I didn’t get there by myself. Along
with my parents, I had coaches to guide
me, encouraging me to excel. The lessons
I learned playing football will stay with me
for life, and I’m proud to share them as a
11 Web Store.indd 11
“The kids hear the same sermons over and over, and the DVDs give
you some ideas that will get their attention,” he said. “I’d definitely
USA Football contributor.”
The 11-time NFL All-Star and former
Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle retired
in June 2008 after taking the field for 12
tremendous seasons. As a USA Football
spokesperson, Ogden will promote the
independent non-profit as a guest on
sports radio talk shows across the country.
Among his most discussed topics will be
USA Football’s Junior National Team (see
pages 8-10) and the IFAF Junior World
Championship (page 28). Ogden also will
appear frequently at usafootball.com.
Ogden was named college football’s
best offensive lineman in 1995 while at
UCLA and was added to the Ravens’ ring of
honor at M&T Bank Stadium before a home
game this past October.
USA Footb
all Shop is
open 24/ 7
at
shop.usafo
otball.com
.
recommend them to other coaches. I’m going
to give them to the other coaches on the team.”
Scott Tutterow of Winston-Salem, N.C.,
a commercial airline pilot and five-year
high school football officiating veteran, has
sharpened his skills with USA Football in
his DVD player.
“I had not played football in such a
long time, I want to see what coaches are
teaching to be better informed on what I
might see during a game – that’s why I got
all of the coaching DVDs,” said Tutterow.
“This allowed me to get back into
the swing of things and helped me
look for the right keys. I watch
the different formations so I can
understand what’s going on when
I see it live. The DVDs are great.”
Bill Wood
“We’re proud to have Jonathan join
USA Football,” said USA Football Executive
Director Scott Hallenbeck. “Teamwork,
sacrifice and responsibility are woven into
football’s fabric. Those qualities are found
in how Jonathan played the sport at every
level. His love for the game melded with
his integrity and leadership are a great fit
for USA Football.”
11
11/17/08 4:04:09 PM
 committed
S
cott Neibert knows a thing or two
about football rules.
The Jefferson County (Mo.) Youth
Association coaching director has helped
write rulebooks for two leagues and has 18
years of coaching experience.
This is the resume of one of USA Football’s
27 committee members.
USA Football and its regional managers
recently established three committees
composed of members in all eight USA
Football regions. Comprised of eight-to-10
members, the committees share insight
and help guide USA Football in shaping
“Instead of reinventing
the wheel, we can get
together and make youth
football better. I can use the
information that I get from
all these different league
representatives.”
Leroy Hollins, founder and director
of Louisiana Youth Football, Youth
Football Rules Committee
“Any time we can get coaches and administrators together
to exchange ideas, it’s better for us as individuals and
better for the leagues. It’s an opportunity to make some
suggestions and recommendations for USA Football, based
on our own personal experiences.”
John Manna, president of the Heartland Youth Football League, Omaha, Neb.,
Youth Football Coaches Advisory Committee
resources and ideas in areas of coaching, Kevin Bushnell, executive president
league administration and rules. of the Arizona Competitive Youth
Neibert was named to USA Football’s Football League, accepted a position
Rules Committee, which provides insight on on the USA Football Administrators
youth football-related rules and standards, Advisory Committee. Bushnell brings 10
such as the composition of a USA Football years of involvement within his 73-team,
Rulebook and recommended national 2,500-youngster league, which spans more
playing standards. than 20 Arizona communities.
“After 18 years of coaching youth The Administrators Advisory
football, I have an idea of what rules have Committee, featuring commissioners from
to be specialized,” Neibert said. “This leagues of all sizes, evaluates and reviews
committee will work well to strike a balance. USA Football resources made available
Being exposed to what other people do and to youth football league administrators.
have done can only help.” These resources include online education
courses, league volunteer background

USA Football
USA Football Administrators Rules Committee
Advisory Committee Kevin Bushnell

NAME CITY, STATE YOU

NAME CITY, STATE YOUTH FOOTBALL ORGANIZATION Leroy Hollins Baton Rouge, La. Lou
Kevin Bushnell Chandler, Ariz. Arizona Competitive Youth Football League Dean Layman Columbus, Ind. Col
Steve DeLuca Paisley, Fla. DeLand Youth Football League - Pop Warner Don Lindberger Harleysville, Pa. Har
Bob Gnoza Georgetown, Mass. Cape Ann Youth Football League Mark Meana Vienna, Va. Fair
Tom Lansing St. Charles, Mo. Gateway Football League Jerron Moore Boise, Idaho Boi
Dwayne LeGrand Biloxi, Miss. St. Martin Youth Football Association Ben Narramore San Diego, Calif. Pal
Mike Milani Columbia, Md. Mid Maryland Youth Football and Cheer Scott Neibert Arnold, Mo. Jeff
Erik Richards Duluth, Ga. Gwinnett Football League Tom Rau Grand Blanc, Mich. Mic
John Veentjer Bellevue, Wash. Greater Eastside Junior Football Association Jason Soistman Glen Burnie, Md. Cen
Jeff Zylman Blue Island, Ill. Metro Youth Football League Horace West Davenport, Fla. Mid

12 USA Football Magazine

12 Committees.indd 12 11/17/08 4:04:47 PM

 More than two dozen
USA Football members
contribute to new advisory committees
By Rashad Mulla
“I [joined] the committee to
improve coaching education
and the overall experience
that leagues should offer to
today’s youth. The sharing
of ideas and experiences
hopefully will help to
improve youth football all
over the country.”
Bob Gnoza, vice commissioner of
the Cape Ann Youth Football League,
Georgetown, Mass., Youth Football
Administrators Advisory Committee
check subsidies, coaching insurance and
football equipment grants.
“A lot of leagues are where we were ten
years ago,” Bushnell said. “I’d like to pass my
experience along.”
Scott Neibert
YOUTH FOOTBALL ORGANIZATION
Louisiana Youth Football League
Columbus Police Athletic Activities League
Harleysville Eagles Youth Football
Fairfax County Youth Football
Boise Noon Optimist Youth Football
Palomar Pop Warner Conference
Jefferson County Youth Association
h. Michigan High School Athletic Association
Champion Officials Group
Mid-Florida Football and Cheerleading Conference
12 Committees.indd 13
The Youth Coaches Advisory Committee
includes Keith Jupiter of Baton Rouge, La.,
an accomplished coach at the Scotlandville
Sports Academy. Jupiter’s experience and
emphasis on character and discipline will
benefit USA Football’s members.
“I have always been interested in
helping kids better themselves, whether it
be through football, character building,
academic progress reports or discipline,”
Jupiter said. “Everyone has to find a little
time in their day to help kids.”
The Youth Coaches Advisory Committee
tests and provides feedback on USA
Football’s coaching resources, which include
computer-animated training courses,
practice planner software, a 3-D online drills
library and more.
All three committees have already held
meetings to discuss coaching resources,
administrative strategies and rules.
“I think we’ve got a good team here,”
Bushnell said. “The committee members
encompass many different viewpoints. We’re
from large, association-based leagues and
small startup leagues.”
USA Football Youth Coaches
Advisory Committee
NAME CITY, STATE
Gus Bernal Ventura, Calif.
Rod Dollar Baselton, Ga.
Shelby Goldblatt Carmel, Ind.
Terry Hyde Vancouver, Wash.
Keith Jupiter Baton Rouge, La.
John Manna Omaha, Neb.
Christos Spirou Long Island, N.Y.
Ron Word Nashville, Tenn.
“I like the mission, I like
the approach, and I think
it’s important for youth
football to establish some
common ground.”
Jerron Moore, executive director
of Boise Noon Optimist Youth
Football, Boise, Idaho, Youth
Football Rules Committee
“I feel like I’ve been given
the opportunity to make a
difference. I’ve met coaches
from all over the country
and used their insight and
recommendations.”
Dwayne LeGrand, president
of the St. Martin Youth Football
Association, Biloxi, Miss., Youth
Football Administrators Advisory
Committee
Keith Jupiter
YOUTH FOOTBALL ORGANIZATION
Ventura Buccaneers
Mill Creek Athletic Association
Carmel Dads Club Tackle Football
Clark County Youth Football
Scotlandville Sports Academy
Heartland Youth Football League
Oceanside Stallions Football
West Nashville Broncos Football
13
11/19/08 11:59:37 AM
 Coaching center
Game-Changer
USA Football’s Certified Coaching Education Program
Scoring Big By Rashad Mulla
Y
oungsters aren’t the only ones in
Coaching
youth football gaining knowledge
about the game. USA Football’s
Certified Coaching Education Program
(C.C.E.P.) is helping America’s youth
football coaches hit the virtual classroom.
USA Football’s C.C.E.P. is a multi-
level online coaching course accessible at
usafootball.com, bolstered with computer
Health & fitness
animation and audio narration. It
encompasses coaching philosophy, practice
planning, communication with players
and parents and methods of football
fundamentals instruction, including
proper blocking and tackling techniques.
Having just completed its first season,
USA Football’s C.C.E.P. drew coaches
from 44 states and Washington, D.C.
Youth league administrators from large,
league
mid-sized and small leagues mandated the
program for coaches in their organization.
Dean Layman, second-year director
of the Columbus
(Ind.) Police
Athletic Activities
League, enrolled all
56 of the league’s
officiating
head coaches and
assistant coaches
in the C.C.E.P.
Dean Layman
He requires the
coaches to finish the course’s second level,
which features 26 more quizzes than
Level One (11 quizzes), employing greater
sophistication and training.
“We strive to teach fundamentals of
the game at this stage,” said Layman,
whose 10-year-old league serves more
than 600 players and 40 teams. “All of our
coaches and assistant coaches now have a
foundation with which to work on.”
“The C.C.E.P. has allowed our
coaches to gain the basic knowledge and
understanding of the game,” said David
Baldwin, a board member of Chamberlain
14 USA Football Magazine
14 COACHING.indd 14
(S.D.) Youth Football League. “It gives our “Youth league commissioners and
coaches a wealth of knowledge.” coaches benefit from resources like the
Baldwin’s league, C.C.E.P.,” said USA Football Executive
which includes Director Scott Hallenbeck. “They are
eight head coaches, remarkably dedicated volunteers who
registered all eight love this game and want kids to learn
for the course’s first it and gain from its team-first values.
level. According We’re proud to provide coaches a state-
to Baldwin, the of-the-art training program. There
David Baldwin C.C.E.P. helped his are always more yards to go, but we’re
program’s coaches, moving the chains.”
who are the face and backbone of the Level One of the C.C.E.P. takes
organization. approximately two hours to complete
Eloy Bonuz, president of the Calhoun and coaches must receive a cumulative
County (Texas) Youth Football League, score of at least 80 percent on its 11
enrolled all 18 quizzes. Level Two features 26 more
of his league’s quizzes and greater sophistication. Upon
head coaches and course completion, coaches receive a
assistant coaches in USA Football coaching certificate and
the C.C.E.P. have their name added to usafootball.
“Several coaches com’s national coach registry. USA
were teaching Football has also built a re-certification
Eloy Bonuz
techniques they test for C.C.E.P. graduates to stay sharp
were taught as next season.
players years ago,” Bonuz said. “The USA To learn more about USA Football’s
Football course is up-to-the-minute with online coaching curriculum and state-of-the-
proper technique and fundamentals.” art coaching resources, visit usafootball.com.
“USA Football’s coaching education program has given me and the
rest of the board a higher level of trust in the coaches we’ve brought
on,” said Patrick Kapus, commissioner of the Manassas (Va.) Youth
Football League. “It gives the public and the parents a higher comfort
level too, knowing that the coaches are prepared.”
“After attending a presentation by USA Football, we decided the
C.C.E.P. would be a good opportunity for our coaches to learn
and advance on their own time,” said Abram Thalhofer, a league
administrator for Whatcom County (Wash.) Youth Football. “And
instead of asking how to do something, with [the C.C.E.P.] they can
always go back and review.”
11/17/08 4:05:19 PM
 Meet a USA Football staffer

Damone Jones Marketing manager

You joined USA Football’s staff this past
May. What appealed to you most when
considering the position?
The chance to work for an organization
with a goal of improving young people’s
lives through sports. Sports
have a special, powerful way
of positively impacting lives.
What are your primary
duties as USA Football’s
marketing manager?
To help us reach the
right people – coaches,
officials and administrators
– and make sure they know
what USA Football offers
them.
Damone Jones
You earned a football
scholarship to Penn State. What did you
learn from Coach Joe Paterno?
You’re never as bad as you think you
are when you’re down, and you’re never as
What does football mean to you?
Football has been very good to me. It
paid for my college education, my grad
school education and introduced me to my
best friends. It toughened me up during my
formative years and is largely responsible
for the type of person I am today.
When did you first decide you wanted to
school because Philadelphia didn’t have
unlimited-weight leagues. I was a big kid.
How do you enjoy your time away from the
office?
I spend a lot of time with my wife and
take in the many things that Washington,
D.C., has to offer – movies, music, museums.
And reading and lifting.
What are your goals for
USA Football in 2009?
More than anything
else, I want to see our
Junior National Team win
the gold medal in Canton,
Ohio, next summer.
With players, families and coaches from
four continents, the IFAF Junior World
Championship stands among the most
historic events football will have ever
seen. And playing the games in the shadow
of the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be
fantastic. I’m sure the ghosts of people like

Photo by Brian Feener

good as you think you are when you’re up. play football? Jim Thorpe, Paul Brown, George Halas
We were taught to remain as even-keeled When I was 6 and first played in and others will proudly peer into Fawcett
as possible in everything we do, remain the school yard – it was two-hand Stadium to see young men from eight
humble and work our rear-ends off. touch. I couldn’t play tackle until high countries playing their sport.

Strength of Schedule
USA Football will conduct nearly 120 training events in 34 states throughout 2009 for coaches,
league commissioners, game officials and youth players.
USA Football Coaching Schools, Officiating Schools, Officiating Seminars and three-day
Player Academies for players aged 9-14 will prepare thousands for next season. Seats for State
Player Academies
Leadership Forums, events designed for league administrators, are offered on an invite-only
basis. If your league has not participated in
past State Forums and would like to do so this
year, please reach your USA Football Regional
Manager (see pg. 21).
View the 2009 events schedule at
usafootball.com by rolling your mouse over
tabs found on the homepage titled, “Coaches,” State Forums
“Officials” and “Players.” Easy online registration
Coaching Schools for USA Football events will be available through usafootball.com by New Year’s Day.

15

15 Staffer.indd 15 11/17/08 4:07:03 PM

 Coaching center
Takeaway-Giveaway with Tom & Larry
Should your best athlete
play quarterback?
Coaching
QB position requires the
best athlete under center
By Tom Bass
Health & fitness
Gone are the days when the quarterback only had to
take the snap and hand the ball to another offensive player
in order for your offense to function.
Offensive coaches are deviating from
the usual offensive formations with not
only adjustments in the alignment, but
also with the personnel they have in
the game.
Initially, passing accuracy
was the primary requirement for
league
the quarterback. Defenses soon determined that
covering the receivers was not the only answer
in stopping the passing attack. Putting pressure
on the quarterback, defenses learned, also paid
great dividends.
The goal then became to have a quarterback
with much greater athletic skills who could move
within the pocket, and move out of the pocket to
officiating
throw on the move when necessary. The quarterback
is required to not only be an accurate passer, but also
be a major participant in the running game.
The position now demands that you line up your
best athlete at the quarterback position if you are to
have success running any one of the new hybrid type of
offenses. With the use of the Wildcat offense, the quarterback is
now asked to line up as a wide receiver, run disciplined pass
routes, catch the ball and be an effective blocker.
Being your best athlete should never be the only criteria
in determining who will be your quarterback. The player
needs to be a leader, have the mental ability to understand
the offense, possess the physical skills for the position and be
mentally tough enough to handle the pressures of the position.
Tom Bass and Larry Canard combine for more than 50 seasons of coaching on the youth, college and NFL levels and illustrate that there’s
more than one way to win a football game. Both contribute to the innovative benefits included within USA Football’s Coaching Membership.
Go to usafootball.com today, click the “Membership” button to join the USA Football family and gain more from Tom & Larry.
16 USA Football Magazine
14 COACHING.indd 16
The best athlete can’t be
showcased at QB
By Larry Canard
While it is important to have a good athlete playing the
quarterback position, I think there are other elements to the position
that are more important.
First and foremost, the quarterback needs to be
smart and mentally tough. At the youth level and
beyond, players will forget where to line up
and what to do on any given play.
The quarterback needs to know
and understand what all 11 players
are supposed to do. In other
words, the quarterback should give you a coach
on the field during games.
While it is not fair, the quarterback also takes
much of the blame when things on offense don’t
go well. For this reason, mental toughness is a must.
I look for kids who don’t get too excited when
things go really well, because that usually
means when things go bad they will not
get down. They are then able to lead by
example.
Before the ball is snapped, all eyes are on
the quarterback. If he is far and away your best athlete,
it becomes difficult to put him in situations in which
he can excel. I prefer to take one or two more gifted
athletes and balance out the formations with them.
I put them in position to receive the ball with fewer
defenders to beat.
Taking a marginal athlete who is smart and
tough and putting him at quarterback to guide
more talented skill position players takes the
defensive focus off of him. He is thus a more
difficult player to defend.
11/17/08 4:05:34 PM
 What If?
USA Football Coaching Members share in-game decision-making
By Rashad Mulla
Name: Vernon Briggs
City, State: Concord, N.H.
Youth League: New Hampshire Pop Warner
Coaching Experience: 7 years
Base Offense: I-Formation
Base Defense: 6-4-1
Type of USA Football membership: Coach, Administrator
Name: Kenneth Swieter
City, State: Midwest, Wyo.
Youth League: Wyoming High School Activities Association
Coaching Experience: 7 years
Base Offense: 2 TE, 2 RB
Base Defense: 5-2-4
Type of USA Football membership: Coach
Name: Ed Robinson
City: Harrison, Ark.
Youth League: Harrison Consolidated Youth Association
Coaching Experience: 5 years
Base Offense: Wishbone
Base Defense: 4-3
Type of USA Football membership: Coach
In youth football, coaches encounter believe we can convert a two-point conversion
multiple situations that call for quick- with a quick slant pass or an outside sweep. I
thinking. Whether you run the West Coast pitch it to the running back and have him take
offense or I-Formation, among the beauties it around either edge. Taking the risk shows
of football is that there’s more than one way the team you have confidence in them, and
to win a game. Three USA Football coaching at the end of a championship game, they
members recently shared their ideas on how have to be confident.
they’d attack various in-game scenarios. Swieter: I would talk to my players
and see how they feel about the situation.
“What If” … you’re playing in a I would want to get their input. All of
championship game. There are 10 seconds them strongly agreeing to go for it would
left in regulation and your offense just convince me to go for two. I’d run my
scored a touchdown, but you are trailing “34 Triple Option” out of a split back
7-6. Do you kick the extra point or go for formation. I’d fake it to the right side back
the win with a two-point conversion? and have the quarterback run left, with
Briggs: I’d go for two points. You have the option to pitch the ball to the left side
to leave it all on the field. With my offense, I running back and have him run a sweep.
14 COACHING.indd 17
Robinson: Go for two. I would definitely go
for the win. I’d split the wide receivers way outside,
and I’d split the guards to spread everything out.
I’d then run a quarterback keeper right up the
middle. This gives the quarterback a little more
room than usual, because the defensive lineman
will line up opposite the offensive linemen.
“What If” … you’re up 14-7 with one
minute left in the game. The other team has
the ball on your 30-yard line with no timeouts.
It’s 3rd and 15. Do you play prevent defense or
do you aggressively rush the passer?
Briggs: I’d send my defense after the
quarterback. In my 6-4 defense, I’d send both of
the ends in, blitz two linebackers up the middle
and give the middle four defensive linemen the
benefit of the doubt, whether they want to play the
pass or run. This creates more pressure on their
quarterback, who already is facing more pressure
than the defense. This also creates the possibility
of a turnover or sack. If they run a draw or other
run play, you still have the pressure.
Swieter: Rush the passer. Throughout
most of the game, I would have been making
the passer make quick decisions. More time
can backfire. I see it all the time where the
other team will go prevent, give the offense
a few yards and hope they don’t give them
anymore after that. I’d have a five-defensive
back formation, with five linemen and one
linebacker. The defensive backs would play
coverage, one side of the defensive line would
run a stunt rush and the linebacker has the
decision to rush the passer or play in coverage.
Robinson: I’d play prevent defense. In my
situation, we’ve got good speed, and we know
they’re going to pass it. The outside linebacker
can cover the backs, the defensive backs can
play man to man, and anyone off the line can
play preventative defense. This will prevent the
long ball, and you know they’re either going to
pass it or run a trick play. The linebackers that
guard the backs can rush the quarterback when
he runs outside of the pocket.
17
11/17/08 4:05:49 PM
 Coaching center

Getting An Angle On
The Ball carrier
Techniques and drills for your defenders
Coaching

By Tim Polzer

T X X
he fastest, most instinctive defenders
can have their aggressiveness
nullified by a taking the incorrect

X
angle to the ball carrier. A simple cutback
or change of pace by a ball carrier can leave

X X X X
Health & fitness

the best defensive players grasping at air. So

how does a coach teach his players to take the
correct pursuit angle to the ball?
George
Darlington, defensive
coordinator of the
2007 USA Football
XXXX
gold-medal Senior
National Team and
defensive coordinator RB
league

at The University of
George Darlington San Diego, uses a
simple technique: have your defenders focus
on the ball carrier’s near hip.
“When a defender overruns the ball, it’s
usually due to a lack of focus,” Darlington
said. “Great running backs are able to cut
back, so don’t let him. A defender should
officiating
George Darlington’s Angle Drill
lines up.
Left and right corner backs line up two
yards outside the cones. Linebackers line up
inside and safeties shuffle inside and out.
A running back points to where he is
Merritt’s Drill:
With his ghost offense set up at its own
10-yard line, Merritt placed additional cones
at the following yards lines: 5, 20, 35 and 50.
Defenders are assigned specific cones

focus on the ball carrier’s near – or inside
– hip. You want your defender thinking, ‘I
don’t want that inside hip to come across my
body. If I can keep that inside hip in focus,
I’ll have a chance to be a good tackler.’”
Darlington explains that 90 to 95 percent
of the time, a defender will approach a ball
carrier from either an outside-in or inside-out
angle. For example, a cornerback will usually
pursue from outside-in to the middle of the
field. Linebackers usually work inside-out and
safeties vary, though most ball carriers take
them inside-out. Darlington suggests a drill
designed to teach defenders how to take the
correct flow to the ball carrier as a unit.
Darlington’s Drill:
Place cones where a tight end normally
running, off-tackle or outside.
As the ball carrier walks toward the
hole or edge, defenders focus on his inside
hip and adjust to the angle.
The drill can be simulated slowly enough
to obtain the defender’s initial focus before
increasing the speed to game speed.
________________________________
Chris Merritt, defensive backs coach
for USA Football’s Junior National Team
and head coach of Christopher Columbus
High School in Miami, Fla., offers another
drill that does more than teach proper
pursuit angles.
“We not only use it for teaching the
proper angle of pursuit, but we also use it
as a conditioning drill,” Merritt said.
depending on position: The “play side”
defensive end, cornerback and outside
linebacker are assigned the first cone,
defensive tackle, inside linebacker and free
safety are assigned the second cone. The
“back side” inside linebacker and defensive
tackle are given the third cone and “back
side” corner, outside linebacker and
defensive end are sent to the fourth cone.
A coach, standing at shotgun depth, makes
the defensive call and simulates the snap. Once
the defensive lineman penetrates one yard
deep, the coach will point to either direction
and the defense will sprint to their assigned
cones using the proper pursuit angles.
When players arrive at their cones, they
“chop” their feet in place until the coach
blows the whistle.

18 USA Football Magazine

14 COACHING.indd 18 11/17/08 4:06:14 PM

 Health & fitness
What Football Has Taught
My Son: Joe Laurinaitis
By Nicole Lukosius
J
ames Laurinaitis, a standout middle
linebacker at Ohio State University,
certainly got his athleticism from his
parents. His father, Joe, is a former professional
wrestler known as “Animal,” and his mother,
Julie, competed as a bodybuilder.
Now a senior, James has earned several top
honors – the Nagurski Award for the nation’s
best defensive player as a sophomore and the
Butkus Award for the nation’s best linebacker as a junior – and his
father believes there is more to come.
No other sport teaches the values of teamwork and dedication
like football does, and James’ parents couldn’t be more proud
of his success. USA Football Magazine recently spoke with Joe
Laurinaitis to learn what football has taught his son.
When did James start playing football?
Outside of Minneapolis, there is no Pop Warner in the suburbs,
so you don’t start playing until fourth grade. But before kindergarten,
he’d say, “Throw the ball here,” so it started at a really young age.
What has playing football taught James?
The value of teamwork – you have 10 other guys on your team,
and whether you’re on offense or defense, you can’t do it all by
yourself. When you’re on offense, you need a good line to throw or
run the ball. And you need a good defense to stop the other team’s
run or pass, so it helped him see how important teamwork was.
Off-season program for helmets and pads By Rashad Mulla
Matt Althoff, the University of Virginia’s
Director of Equipment Room Operations, is
responsible for managing the university’s three
student-athlete equipment rooms. In his fifth year
in this position, and his 11th at the university,
Althoff is a certified member of the Athletic
Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) and
currently serves on its board of directors. Matt Althoff
USA Football recently spoke with Althoff to discuss three
keys regarding off-season equipment storage and management. storage. Equipment needs to be sanitized and disinfected to
“After retrieving equipment back from each athlete, take an
inventory,” Althoff said. “A good inventory system will also help Once this is done, store equipment in a cool, dry room.
19 HEALTHSAFETY.indd 19
How has football helped James off the field?
Discipline has helped James in the
classroom. He’s an academic All-America,
too. His brother, Joe, has always been proud
of him, but he’s even more proud of him
now because of the way he handles the
success he’s had.
How has having two professional athletes as parents
influenced him?
You can’t force a person to be a good athlete. Good athletes are
born, just like good leaders are born. With James, he has the genetics
from his mother and I, but nothing comes short of hard work.
What is your fondest memory of his football career?
Two years ago against Texas is when James really made his
statement. He had an interception, two forced fumbles and 13
tackles. Once when Texas was driving, James forced the tailback to
fumble. Donald Washington picked up the ball and headed up the
field, and that was a game-changing play. At halftime I said to his
mother, “Look at this kid – he belongs here.”
What would you tell other parents about letting their child play football?
I just say support your young athlete. If his buddies are playing
football and they’re out in the yard, and your kid is doing well,
encourage him to play. The equipment is so good these days, the
chances of getting hurt are so slim.
you determine what new equipment you need to order
each year. As you check the equipment back in, make a
visual inspection of it and note anything that is broken or
needs to be replaced.”
It is recommended to recondition helmets and
shoulder pads each year by a certified reconditioner
from that National Operating Committee on Standards
for Athletic Equipment.
Althoff also stresses proper equipment sanitizing and
help prevent the spread of MRSA and other staph infections.
19
11/17/08 4:07:23 PM
 LEAgue Center
Celebrating Your Season,
Regardless of Record
Responsible Coaches and Responsible Sport Parents Redefine Success
Coaching

By David Jacobson, Positive Coaching Alliance and Responsible Sports

sportsmanship, not only during the moment,
but also at the end of the season when taking
stock of all that has happened.
Celebrate effort. When young
athletes give it their all, week in and week
out, on game day, during practices and
even off the field, they need to know their
Health & fitness

effort was noticed and appreciated. That’s

what keeps the effort coming in sports,
and the more they understand that effort
is rewarded, the likelier they are to expend
similar effort in school, around the house
and in their communities. Celebrate the
exceptional efforts these athletes make!
Celebrate mistakes. Sounds crazy,
doesn’t it? But we don’t mean celebrate the
mistakes themselves. We mean you should
league

Parkview Mustangs Youth Football & Cheerleading (Little Rock, Ark.) is not only celebrating their celebrate the players who used those
season, they are celebrating having won a $2,500 Responsible Sports Community Grant from mistakes to learn and improve. That will
Liberty Mutual this year. Visit ResponsibleSports.com/grant to find out how you can participate. keep them free from the fear of mistakes,

A
which leads to fewer mistakes, so that
s the fall football season ends, coaches and parents begin to assess the season’s next season they will more likely have the
successes. For some, that evaluation is measured only in wins and losses. chance to celebrate scoreboard success!
But the reality of sports – from the youth “Celebrating” a losing season may
level to the pros – is that not all teams can be league seem hard at first, but it teaches a life
officiating

champions. Responsible Coaches and Responsible Sport lesson that will stay with players: “Just
Parents look beyond scoreboards and standings. because you didn’t win doesn’t mean
At season’s end, regardless of your record, the team all is lost. You’ve strived, learned and
from Responsible Sports encourages you to redefine winning and celebrate the successes improved, and those are their own
you see when viewing sports from a broader perspective. Whether there is a zero in your rewards.” Focus on celebrating all that
“L” column or your “W” column, here are four achievements to celebrate. was good, positive and valuable about the
Skills improvement. While the scoreboard might not show it, most of your season and your players will be motivated
players probably improved their skills this season. You can celebrate everyone from the to rejoin the team next year with even
quarterback who cut down on interceptions to the linemen who learned new blocking greater enthusiasm and dedication.
techniques to the defensive backs who stayed in front of receivers. By applying this For more valuable tips on Responsible
“Coaching For Mastery” approach to football, coaches can celebrate the success of sheer Coaching and Responsible Sport Parenting,
improvement each week and at the end of the season, stoking the players’ desire to play visit ResponsibleSports.com.
again next year – regardless of this year’s record. Responsible Sports is a national program
Sportsmanship. Your players’ sense of sportsmanship – or “Honoring the Game” in that brings together USA Football, Liberty
the words of our Responsible Sports partner Positive Coaching Alliance – is ample cause Mutual Insurance (www.libertymutual.
for celebration. Long after this season, your players will benefit from the type of character com) and Positive Coaching Alliance (www.
that lets them congratulate opponents on a great win or show restraint if an official makes positivecoach.org) in an effort to benefit
a questionable call. Responsible Coaches and Responsible Sports Parents should praise millions of young athletes, parents and coaches.

20 USA Football Magazine

20 LEAGUE.indd 20 11/17/08 4:07:50 PM

 USA Football Regional Managers
A merica’s favorite sport is powered by you – dedicated youth league commissioners, coaches, game
officials and volunteers. For each of you, there is a face and name to place in your football Rolodex:
your USA Football Regional Manager.
USA Football Regional Managers are current and former coaches, players and administrators working for you. Each has the experience
needed to help you make your league or team even stronger with USA Football’s resources.
Contact your USA Football Regional Manager to learn how you can kickoff your free administrator membership or to ask about coaching
certification, the nearest USA Football Coaching School, Player Academy or Officiating School. Stay in touch with your regional manager,
whether it’s to share news about your league or team or to ask about member resources.
In addition, you may always contact our office, based outside of Washington, D.C., through usafootball.com or by phone at
1-877-5-FOOTBALL. Let us know how we can serve you better.
Together we’ll ensure that teamwork and leadership continue to serve as the laces binding our favorite game.

Northeast Region
Ed Passino
Northwest Region Great Lakes Region (703) 992-8246
Bassel Faltas Central Region Scott LeVeque epassino@usafootball.com
(571) 730-4816 Joe Owens (571) 730-4815
bfaltas@usafootball.com (571) 730-4822 sleveque@usafootball.com
jowens@usafootball.com

West Region Southeast Region

Bucky Brooks Rick Peacock
(818) 921-7616 (703) 992-8107
South & Mid-Atlantic rpeacock@usafootball.com
bbrooks@usafootball.com
Deno Campbell
(703) 992-8653
dcampbell@usafootball.com

21

20 LEAGUE.indd 21 11/17/08 4:08:07 PM

 Meet a USA Football Member
Chad Blomgren
F
ootball has a way of bringing people together and What inspired you to join USA Football?
instilling a sense of unity. The middle child out of five There have been limitations on what types of tools, clinics,
boys, USA Football Administrator playbooks and practice planners are out there.
Member Chad Blomgren began playing To have an association like USA Football whose
America’s favorite sport in seventh grade, and mission is to improve your knowledge and the
it has been a big part of his life ever since. players’ knowledge, I just can’t help but take
A self-proclaimed “purple people eater” – or advantage of that.
Minnesota Vikings fan – Blomgren grew up in
Hills-Beaver Creek, a small Minnesota town What is your job as the second- through sixth-
where 9-man football was the game. grade director?
Determined to share his passion with his My No. 1 goal, as is the goal of our president, is
two sons, Blomgren volunteers his time serving teaching the fundamentals to the kids, making sure
on the Elk River (Minn.) Football Association the coaches are equipped and prepared to teach
board and is now the director for those fundamentals, that the coaches
grades two through six. CHAD BLOMGREN allow for a great experience for the
Blomgren recently spoke with players, and most importantly, that
Resides: Elk River, Minn.
USA Football Magazine to impart his we bring back as many young men to
story and the value of being a USA USA Football Membership: Administrator this program every year as possible.
Football member. Position: Director, Elk River Football Our goal is to meet in the off-season
Association, Grades 2-6 with the board and to mandate that
What is your favorite football at least the head coach from each staff
memory? complete USA Football’s online coaching certification.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I was brought up to
play defensive end, and we were playing this team that had a real How have you benefited from a USA Football Administrator
strong-horse running back. I was told by my older brother and Membership?
coaches to stay ‘home’ in my position and take three steps across It’s a venue where you can pick the brains of other
the line of scrimmage and angle in to the play. On my first play administrators and coaches and learn from some of the best ones
from scrimmage, I did that and here comes this kid who is 50 out there. Chances are there’s someone who has experienced the
pounds heavier than me, and I stuck him in the backfield. It was problem you’re facing, and there’s an answer out there you won’t
one of the more memorable tackles of my high school career. have to come up with on your own.

What interested you in becoming involved with youth
football?
I was never able to have my father be my coach because the
coaches were always from the school programs. The only way you
can play football as a youth here is through our Elk River Football
Association and all of the coaches are volunteers. So the fact that I
have the opportunity that my dad didn’t have means a lot to me.
What do you enjoy about this position?
I get enjoyment out of hearing from parents who share some
of the great experiences their kids are having in football. While
we don’t measure the success of our program on wins and losses,
we do measure it on the growing number of boys that we have
coming to play at Elk River. It is truly the only way in town that
boys can play football.

Thank you, USA Football! Dear USA Football,

USA Football, with help from partners Schutt
At times we can take gifts for granted and miss the moment to say ‘thank you,’ so
Sports and Gilman Gear, awarded $500,000 in
‘Thank you!’ What you have done for our program has been a blessing and very much
equipment grants to more than 350 youth, middle
appreciated. God has blessed you with a special gift (through football) – to make a
school and high school football programs based
positive effect on the life of a child. I hope and pray that your blessings will continue
on merit and need during the 2007-08 school year.
to manifest. With much humilty and gratitude, our football program thanks you for
Recipients have responded with a deluge of kind
all that you do and for all that you have done.
“thank you” letters to our non-profit office. An
excerpt of one such note is printed here:
Willis Alexander
Head Coach, Frederick A. Douglass H.S., Oklahoma City, Okla.
22 USA Football Magazine

20 LEAGUE.indd 22 11/17/08 4:08:23 PM

 Meet a USA Football board Member

Jon Butler
Executive Director, Pop Warner Little Scholars

H
elping steer USA Football’s mission as the sport’s national governing body on youth
and amateur levels is its 18-member Board of Directors. The board is composed
of leaders throughout the football community who share a deep appreciation for
America’s favorite sport. This issue of USA Football Magazine introduces you USA Football
Board Member Jon Butler, Pop Warner Little Scholars’ executive director since 1991.

How did your youth football coaches impact your personal development?
My coaches played a huge role in my attitude and in building determination and
competitiveness. I started playing organized football in the sixth grade and played a
number of other sports, too.

You’re a former high school football coach. What did that experience afford you and
how has it helped you in leading Pop Warner? 
It helps me relate to coaches and understand what they go through on a day-to-day basis. What does youth football need to do in
Secondly, it helps me understand many of the obstacles faced in fielding a football team. order to grow and become even better
for kids and families involved in it? 
Pop Warner mandates that head coaches attend a USA Football Coaching School or Most importantly, communicate
complete its online Certified Coaching Education Program (C.C.E.P.).  Why is coaching positively and effectively that youth
education important to you?  football is just as safe as other youth
First, too many potential coaches think they should be a Vince Lombardi- or Woody sports. Beyond that, I strongly believe
Hayes-type – driving and hard-nosed. Especially in today’s society, that type of attitude that all youth sports programs should
frequently backfires and turns kids away. Second, being able to market to parents that require education for at least head coaches,
our coaches are trained helps overcome the widespread misperception that football mandate background checks on everyone
encounters more injuries than other youth sports. who has regular, repetitive contact with
children and at every practice and/or
Where have you seen USA Football make its greatest strides during your tenure on the board? game, require the presence of at least
USA Football’s coaching education program has been a great, valuable step forward for all of one person – at minimum – who has
us. Now that the online functionality has been added, it enables our 8,000 head coaches to take the First Aid training or who has taken the
course even though many don’t have access geographically to USA Football Coaching Schools. P.R.E.P.A.R.E. course.

USA Football’s board of directors

Ray Anderson
Exec. V.P., Football Operations
National Football League
Jason Belser
Senior Regional Director
NFL Players Association
Richard Berthelsen
Interim Executive Director
NFL Players Association
Joe Browne
Exec. V.P., Communications
& Public Affairs
National Football League
Jon Butler Roger Goodell Keith Rucker
Executive Director Commissioner Head Football Coach
Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. National Football League Cincinnati Mt. Healthy H.S.
Tom Cove Scott Hallenbeck Frank Sanchez
President & CEO Executive Director Vice President
SGMA International USA Football Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Carl Francis Jack Kemp Grant Teaff
Director of Communications Chairman, USA Football Executive Director
NFL Players Association Former U.S. Congressman American Football
Alexia Gallagher Mark Meana Coaches Association
Director, NFL Youth Football Dept. Chairman Deborah Yow
National Football League Fairfax County (Va.) Athletic Director
Bob Gardner Youth Football League University of Maryland
Chief Operating Officer Brian Mitchell
National Federation of State Former NFL Running Back
High School Associations Program Host, Washington Redskins
Radio Network
23

23 Board.indd 23 11/17/08 4:08:45 PM

 Officiating
Off-season training
important for officials
By Dave McMahon
Coaching
F
ootball is more popular than ever
which translates to a tight off-season
schedule for its officials.
That’s why it’s so important for football
officials to hone up on their profession
once a season has concluded.
Bill LeMonnier, USA Football’s
Health & fitness
officiating consultant, spends more time
every year on the field as an official in
the Big Ten Conference and in the Arena
Football League. He also spends more time
every year enhancing his knowledge.
“The way it’s gotten today, with so much
football being played, you have to work year-
round on your training,” LeMonnier said.
“I’ve seen way too many guys wait
until Aug. 1 to worry about their
league
fitness. Number one, you need to do
it for yourself, for your own health.
Number two, you don’t need to be able
to play the game, but you do need to
look the part and be able to run. You’ve
got to work on fitness year-round.”
USA Football’s officiating members
have a treasure trove of information
officiating
and skill-development programs available
to them.
“The USA Football rules interpretation is an
outstanding feature,” LeMonnier said. “You can
click on a topic on the Web site and go to the
rule itself for examples of how it’s used. There
also are video examples. You can take a look at
the same thing from four or five perspectives.”
LeMonnier has found that small-group
meetings with other officials can also bring
development in the area of rules during the
off-season.
“Guys will put together quizzes for
their group in order to improve their rule
knowledge,” LeMonnier said. “The great
thing now is if you can’t meet as a crew
in person, you can do so over email. You
can also go to refstripes.com, which offers
24 USA Football Magazine
24 OFFICIATING.indd 24
Bill LeMonnier
a lot of dialogue about rule questions,
interpretation, and everything else.”
Clinics are another sure-fire way to
improve skills and technique.
“When I started as an official in 1973,
there were two clinics in the country,”
LeMonnier said. “Now there are probably
25-35 in the off-season. And they’re
jammed, every one of them. There’s no
space available once they’ve been posted.
Guys are hungry. They eat this stuff up
and they can’t get enough of it. And they
sure don’t do it for the money. They do it
because they love the game so much.”
With video so easily accessible, film
study has become another easy element to
add to an official’s off-season development
program. And for those just beginning
in the profession, finding a mentor is an
important first step.
“There are guys out there who would
love to work with you and sit down and
offer suggestions,” LeMonnier said. “All
it takes is seeking them out. If someone
wants to not only get better, but also
advance, and you have the desire, you have
to find a mentor to tell you the ins and outs
of what it’s like at the next level.
“If you have a mentor who can get the
supervisor’s ear, and the name gets repeated
to the supervisor, that’s going to help.
Supervisors are at clinics. Go and meet them,
let them put a face to the name. Give them an
impression. Networking is all part of it.”
Officials enter the sport at younger
ages every year and LeMonnier has
found them well-equipped to do the job.
“Overall the ability of the young officials
coming in far exceeds the level I was at when
I started,” he said. “They just need the game
experience. New, young officials are going
to get an opportunity to move up a lot
quicker today than they did before.”
Even so, LeMonnier encourages them
to get as much work as possible and always
strive to improve.
“Anytime you get complacent in what
you’re doing, anytime you think you’ve
got a handle on it, that’s when you start
to slip behind,” LeMonnier said. “The
game continues to evolve. It’s not the
game my father played. Whether it’s the
speed, offenses or techniques, the game is
evolving. It’s not our game. It’s their game.
They’re not going to adjust to us; we’ve got
to adjust to the game.”
USA Football’s 2009 Officiating School
and Seminar Schedule will be posted at
usafootball.com by New Year’s Day. Roll
to the gray “Officiating” tab and click,
“Officiating Schools.”
11/17/08 4:09:09 PM
 Wojcikiewicz keeps busy in the off-season
Jim Wojcikiewicz, a football official from Lockport, Ill., makes
off-season improvement a priority. The USA Football officiating
member takes a three-pronged attack to bettering his skills.
First, he stays in shape physically by
running 10Ks and half-marathons. Next,
he does a lot of film study, whether from
high school, college or NFL games. And
around March 1, he begins shoring up on
rules.
“I study rules for about 15 or 20
minutes a day, every day of the week,”
Wojcikewicz
Wojcikiewicz said. “I try to cover different
rules and philosophies. At this point in my career, a lot of what I
ask myself is ‘How do I philosophically apply that rule in a given
situation.’”
Film work is an easy way to get several of his peers together in
the off-season.
“I try to get other people to watch film with me, whether
it’s film of games that I’ve worked or that I didn’t work,”
Wojcikiewicz said. “Other people can pick up on things that I
may not see. The more eyes you can get watching and providing
feedback, the better. You can also put yourself in different
situations. I might look at a call and say, ‘If I was the back judge,
what would I call?’”
Wojcikiewicz began his career while he was a student at the
University of Iowa. He currently works high school varsity,
24 OFFICIATING.indd 25
Division III college and indoor football games. He began his 19th
season at the high school level in 2008, and has 10 years under his
belt as a Division III official.
“It was a great job when I was a student at the University of
Iowa,” Wojcikiewicz said. “I would work intramurals a couple of
days a week and youth games on Tuesday and Thursday, so I had
plenty of games. I was very, very fortunate.”
Whether he’s off from his Chicago-area home to southern
Wisconsin or northern Indiana for a Division III game on a
Saturday, Wojcikiewicz has seen a game evolving before his eyes.
“I like that the game is getting better and faster. It’s my
responsibility to keep up with it, and that’s a challenge in itself,”
Wojcikiewicz said. “If you don’t keep up with it during the off-
season, you will not do it during the season. You don’t necessarily
learn when you’re on the field. The off-season is the time to learn.”
Wojcikiewicz usually attends two clinics a year, one for high
school officials and another for college officials. He also shares his
knowledge about the profession when he speaks annually at one
high school clinic.
Wojcikiewicz, who works in sales, plans to remain involved in
America’s favorite sport for years to come, which is why he works
at it in the off-season.
“It’s extremely important to get work done in the off-season,”
he said. “If you don’t keep improving, people will absolutely pass
you by.”
– Dave McMahon
25
11/17/08 4:09:31 PM
 Officiating

Season in Rewind
USA Football Officiating Member Reviews Season Two;
His First With USA Football
By Rashad Mulla
Coaching

K
yle Hastings recalled feeling the same jitters
in 1997, before playing his first college football
game as an Olivet Nazarene University Tiger.
Fast-forward to the 2008 football season. The
former Tigers offensive lineman and position coach
was amped up again, anxious to take the field, this
time donning an official’s stripes. Hastings was
Health & fitness

about to begin his second year as a Chicago Catholic

League high school football official after a playing and
coaching career.
“I’m a lot more confident now,” said Hastings, a first-
year USA Football officiating member. “But I still have
butterflies in my stomach after 15 years of football.”
Hastings, 29, spent his offseason going over
mechanics, positioning, football rules and
implementation. He turned to USA Football’s officiating
membership to help improve his on-field performance
league

through usafootball.com’s tutorials and video clips.

“It has been a huge asset to my officiating,” Hastings USA Football Officiating Member Kyle Hastings is gaining confidence and
said. “I don’t know 100 percent of the rules, but I can compliments on the field.
always refer to the website.”
An umpire, Hastings said his 2008 season went well.
“I felt confident when I stepped on the field and even
more confident when I stepped off,” said Hastings, a
member of the Central Officials Association in Illinois.
officiating

During the offseason, Hastings reviewed film of

his rookie season work. He wanted to improve his
mechanics and understanding of the rules.
Bill Hellmer, a 30-year officiating veteran who
oversees the Chicago Catholic League’s 130 officials,
noted the second-year official’s improvement.
“He’s progressing along the curve as a second-
year official should be,” Hellmer said. “There is a
noticeable difference in his demeanor on the field.
He knows where he has to be on the field.”
USA Football officiating consultant Bill LeMonnier,
a Big 10 and Arena Football referee, said Hastings’
hunger to learn is the key to his improvement.
“He’s really receptive and open,” LeMonnier said. “He doesn’t any way possible.
want things sugar-coated.” “I’m trying to referee in front of the TV,” said Hastings, who
During this offseason, Hastings plans to study more film, has now officiated more than 80 youth and high school games in
improve his mechanics and review USA Football’s officiating his two seasons. “I have a couple of mentors that I’ve watched for
resources. Hastings seeks officiating knowledge and experience in awhile. I try to learn from them.”

26 USA Football Magazine

24 OFFICIATING.indd 26 11/17/08 4:09:50 PM

 quick-hitter grid
With members in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, USA Football recently caught up with four officiating members
spanning the Great Lakes to the Southwest. Below are their straight-ahead thoughts on topics from football to food to music.

Official: Rich Almeroth Alan Turman John Wiercinski Bob Hyde

Location: Tucson, Ariz. Shreveport, La. Comstock, Mich. Emmett, Idaho

Hardest call Holding Unsportsmanlike Anything that Holding

to make conduct on a coach impacts the
outcome of the
game

Advice for a Relax Study Keep your Know the rules

new official hard head up

Last book “Sacred Marriage” USA Football Officials “Born to Referee” “Knight:
you read by Gary L. Thomas Handbook by Jerry Markbreit My Story”
by Bob
Knight

Favorite My son, Michael Van Halen Anything R&B Metallica

musician Almeroth

Pre-game Chocolate Spicy Spaghetti or Lasagna

meal or snack Shake Slim
Jim
Snickers &
Mountain Dew

Best team Minnesota Texas Christian

nickname in University University Southern Illinois Salukis
football Scottsdale Golden Horned Frogs
(Ariz.) Community Gophers
College Artichokes

Football official Rich Hall, NFL Umpire Mike Carey, NFL Tony Michalek, NFL Bill LeMonnier, College
you respect Referee Umpire (Big Ten) & AFL Referee
the most

USA Football offers resource-packed memberships to give coaches, officials and youth league administrators an edge.
Learn more at usafootball.com/register. 27

24 OFFICIATING.indd 27 11/17/08 4:10:12 PM

 World’s top national teams
eager for Canton journey
Six nations earn berths for eight-country IFAF Junior World Championship field
By Steve Alic
A
destination for pro football’s greats,
Canton, Ohio, also becomes the
targeted town of high school players IFAF Senior World Championship. Held in
from all corners of the world in 2009.
Six nations from three continents
recently clinched berths for the 2009
International Federation of American
Football (IFAF) Junior World
Championship, to be held
in Canton’s historic Fawcett
Stadium from June 27-July 5. The
tournament is football’s first world
championship among high school-
aged national teams. A total of 52
countries are IFAF members, each
with a national federation dedicated
solely to the sport.
Canada, France, Germany, Japan,
Sweden and the United States are in.
Two berths remain for Australia,
the Bahamas, Mexico, New Zealand
and Panama.
Sweden earned its Canton
ticket by finishing second, behind
Germany, in the 2008 European
Junior Championship. The top three
teams from Europe’s eight-nation
tournament (Germany, Sweden and
France, respectively) qualified for
next summer’s world championship.
“For us, being in the first IFAF
Junior World Championship in
Canton is historic – an experience
without comparison,” said Team
Sweden head coach Jan Jenmert.
“A lot of our inspiration in our
developing journey has been the
magnitude of this event and the fact that
this tournament is held in the cradle of our
beloved sport.
“Not only is it held in the U.S.A., but on
historic ground in Canton, Ohio, which has
been a huge energizer for our entire staff and is eager to continue football’s international
players.”
Japan, representing Asia, saw its senior
national team narrowly lose a 23-20 double-
28 USA Football Magazine
28 JWC.indd 28
overtime Gold Medal game decision to
USA Football’s senior team in the 2007
Kawasaki, Japan, NFL Network televised the
contest nationally in the U.S.
“I give sincere appreciation to IFAF and traveling to Panama for a qualifying game
USA Football for hosting the first Junior
2009 IFAF Junior World Championship
Qualified:
Pan America: Canada, United States
Europe: France, Germany, Sweden
Asia: Japan
Qualifying games:
Pan America
Jan. 24, 2009: Bahamas at Panama
(Panama City)
Feb. 14, 2009: Bahamas-Panama Winner at Mexico
(Mexico City)
Oceania
Jan. 24, 2009: New Zealand at Australia
(Canberra, Australia)
World Championship in Canton,” said Teruo to prepare our team for next year’s event,”
Taniguchi, president of the Japan American
Football Association (JAFA), established
in 1934. “With the success of hosting the
Senior World Championship in 2007, JAFA
development.”
The IFAF Junior World Championship
kicks off on Saturday, June 27 and continues Championship, visit jwcfootball.com.
on Wednesday, July 1 and Saturday, July 4,
before the Championship Game on Sunday,
July 5.
The Bahamas enter international
competition for the first time when
on Saturday, Jan. 24, in Panama City.
The winner will visit Mexico on
Saturday, Feb. 14, in Mexico City for
the right to join the Junior World
Championship field.
Oceania will be represented by
either Australia or New Zealand,
who will meet in Canberra,
Australia, during the Australia
Day weekend national holiday on
Saturday, Jan. 24.
“It is a testament to American
football’s strength that we have
such a diverse group of countries
determined to compete at
the game’s highest level,”
said Tommy Wiking,
president of Paris-based
IFAF. “This first Junior
World Championship will
stand among the most
significant international events in
football’s rich history. Our languages
and cultures may differentiate us,
but we’re united through our passion
for football and the team-oriented
values that it inspires.”
“We, as a small nation in the
football community, are very, very
proud to take part in this, and we
will do everything in our ability
Sweden’s Jenmert added. “It is really
important for us to play against the great
nations of football – the U.S.A., Canada,
Mexico and Japan – and we will take the
opportunity to learn as much as possible
from that experience.”
For more on the 2009 IFAF Junior World
11/17/08 4:10:28 PM
 Fawcett Stadium Earns
photo courtesy of the pro football hall of fame

national honor
P
ro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, the site of the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship, was
recently named the country’s best high school football stadium by ESPN. Built in 1924 with a capacity of more than 20,000, one of
the country’s best football venues is the home field for three high schools and two colleges. Named for the late John A. Fawcett, a local
civic leader and Canton Board of Education member, the venue features artificial turf, a pro-style press box and lighting system. The site also
hosts Ohio high school football state championship games.
In addition, the stadium is home to the NFL’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, which traditionally begins the NFL season every August.
Standing adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Fawcett Stadium underwent a sparkling $4.3 million renovation in 1997.
The 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship kicks off on June 27.

29

28 JWC.indd 29 11/17/08 4:10:34 PM

 Football facts,
stats & figures
USA Football continually conducts and uncovers research to share with you, our members. We speak with league administrators, youth
coaches, game officials and parents to learn how America’s favorite sport can be even better. Every issue of USA Football Magazine shares
“Facts, Stats and Figures” pertaining to the football community.

USA Football’s 37 coaching schools in 2008 drew nearly 7,000 coaches from more than 30 states. Consistently striving to better serve the
game, USA Football surveyed more than 700 of its coaching school participants this year and discovered the following findings from this group:

How many years have How much did you learn at your Would you recommend Would you consider
you coached football? USA Football Coaching School? USA Football Coaching attending this event
Reinforced things Schools to others? next year?
0-1 year I knew – 8%
15%
6+ years
33% Learned a
2-3 years Learned a
lot of new
28% few new
things – Yes – 97% Yes – 94%
things –
3-5 years 39% 53%
25%
Source: 2008 USA Football Coaching School Surveys

According to the most recent participation study conducted by the With a free USA Football administrator
National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the number membership, every youth football league can
of boys playing high school football nearly doubles the next-played sport. receive a $10 subsidy from USA Football
on gold-standard background checks
The most popular high school sports played by boys during the for its coaches from the National Center
2007-08 school year: for Safety Initiatives (NCSI). Of the
1.2 thousands of background checks run
1,135,361 1200000
Million across America with USA Football’s
financial assistance, 4.3 percent have
drawn “red lights.”

900,000
900000 A breakdown of “red light” determinations
made through USA Football’s Background
616,034 Check Subsidy Program:
552,935
600000
600,000
478,029 Any felony; a crime punishable by confinement
greater than one year – 45.4%
383,561
Any lesser crime involving force or threat
300,000
300000
of force against a person – 36.4%

Any lesser crime involving controlled

Tackle 0 substances (does not include alcohol) – 13.9%
Football Track &
Field Basketball Any lesser crime in which sexual relations is
Baseball
Soccer an element (including pornography) – 3.2%
Source: 2007-08 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Study Source: NCSI, October 2008

30 USA Football Magazine

30 Stats.indd 30 11/17/08 4:11:04 PM

31.indd 7 11/17/08 4:01:47 PM
 What Football Taught Me
Sgt. Tommy Rieman, United States Army
As Told To Tim Polzer

During Operation Iraqi

Freedom, Sgt. Tommy
“Basically everything I learned in football when they encountered enemy
fire in the form of three rocket-
Rieman distinguished I have also used in the Army.” powered grenades (RPGs) and
himself through gallant three roadside bombs.
acts of courage and bravery under fire, and expertise as a “light fighters” infantryman. During the ensuing firefight, Rieman
he believes his years of playing football helped After volunteering for service in Kosovo returned fire while positioning himself
him become an honored soldier. as part of Operation Noble Freedom, Rieman between his fellow soldiers and the enemy. He
Rieman was introduced to football at the re-enlisted for an assignment in Germany sustained severe bullet wounds in the chest
youth league level and earned the status of where he joined Echo Company, 51st Infantry and arm but continued returning fire until
captain as quarterback and safety for Simon Long Range Surveillance (LRS), where he his unit was safely outside the kill zone. The
Kenton High School in Independence, Ky. completed Special Forces training. sergeant later came under fire again until
Rieman received offers to play football at In early 2003, Rieman and his LRS, machine gun fire silenced the enemy.
several small colleges, but he instead chose to unit were charged with scouting the way for Following his return to the United States
enlist in the U.S. Army. ground operations in Iraq. Echo Company in 2004, Rieman was awarded the Silver
The same determination that drove him entered ahead of armored units spearheading Star for “acts of conspicuous gallantry
to succeed in football pushed Rieman through Operation Iraqi Freedom. and courage under fire while serving as an
many of the Army’s challenges including In December of 2003, Rieman and his unit Assistant Team Leader in Echo, 51st Infantry
Airborne School training and achieving were on a surveillance mission deep in Iraq Long Range Surveillance Company.”

A
s a kid, I always wanted to be And football doesn’t leave your
G.I. Joe, and as a teenager, I heart just because you spend months
always wanted to play college overseas fighting for your country.
football or join the Army. I’ve been My fellow soldiers and I always talked
lucky to include football and the football, and thanks to AFN (Armed
Army in my life. Forces Radio Network), NFL.com and
Basically everything I learned in other Web sites, we could keep up
football I have also used in the Army. with our favorite teams and stay in
In fact, I live every day of my life using the know. Football gave us something
the lessons football taught me. to think about – something important
Discipline, camaraderie, teamwork; in our lives back home – when we
I think they work hand-in-hand. Both Sgt. Tommy Rieman, center, stands between former had some time between missions.
require fighting for something much Marshall University Football Coach Jack Lengyel and Sometimes we would stay up all night
greater than yourself. That’s what being Pro Football Hall of Fame Cornerback Mike Haynes. Sgt. to watch NFL games – they didn’t
Rieman’s acts of courage were honored by the Pro Football
part of a team is all about – coming kickoff until 3 a.m. in Iraq – but it
Hall of Fame this past August.
together to accomplish a goal. That’s was worth it.
what we do in the Army, and that’s what I did when I played football. I encourage kids to go out for their youth football leagues as
Football is the greatest sport in the world. The game symbolizes soon as they are old enough. And for those kids who choose other
America. When you think of America, you think of football – youth sports, I encourage them to try out again in their freshman year
football, high school football, college football, pro football – you of high school. It’s not too late to benefit from the lessons football
think of greatness. Every boy wants to grow up to play in the NFL. can bestow on you.
From my first years playing for the Boone County Pee Wee Football Each issue of USA Football Magazine reveals what America’s
Redskins through high school, I always loved to hit. At Simon Kenton, I favorite sport has taught accomplished individuals in varying
played quarterback, but also loved to play safety. I also learned how to career fields. These football accounts illustrate how today’s players
be a leader, a quality that carried over into my Army career, too. become tomorrow’s leaders.

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