The Salamanca Warriors enroll in USA Football’s Heads Up Football program to advance player safety by providing coaching education and teaching resources that benefit players, parents and coaches while maximizing the high school football experience.
All coaches will be trained in Heads Up Football techniques before leading their teams this season. The entire Warriors staff will complete USA Football’s accredited Level 1 Coach Certification Course, which includes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concussion recognition and response protocols; sudden cardiac arrest protocols; proper helmet and shoulder pad fitting; heat and hydration information; as well as Shoulder Tackling and blocking techniques.
High School Heads Up Football
Heads Up Football High School is the sport’s most comprehensive high school player safety program encompassing an array of medically endorsed coach education resources. The program consists of two key features and six required education components with a new advanced roll tackling method. USA Football has developed high school-specific Player Safety Coach (PSC) binders to complement our four-hour high school PSC clinics and later this year will release “Practice Smart,” a new professional development course built for the high school coach. “Practice Smart” will introduce innovative practice techniques that employ less contact, but apply it in smarter ways to give your players an advantage. It is strongly recommended that schools participate in all aspects of Heads Up Football High School and have coaches certified annually. The level and frequency of program adoption is driven by schools, school districts as well as local and state requirements.
Youth Heads Up Football
COACH CERTIFICATION USA Football coach certification gives you access to nationally accredited courses with content created from leading football experts and health professionals. Coaches with current USA Football certification are eligible for coaching insurance benefits.
PLAYER SAFETY COACH (PSC) Your organization’s PSC is responsible for ensuring your league is in compliance with Heads Up Football® health and safety protocols including coaching certification. They also play a vital role in monitoring and guiding coaches throughout the season.
SAFETY
Key Features
Player Safety Coach (PSC)
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Our PSC's are responsible for ensuring the organizations’ compliance with core Heads Up Football health and safety protocols, including coaching certification and conducting safety clinics for coaches, parents and players.
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Coach Certification
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The sport’s only nationally accredited courses with content created from football experts and health professionals. Coaches with valid USA Football certification become eligible for coaching insurance benefits.
Certification Components
1. Concussion Recognition & Response
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2. Sudden Cardiac Arrest
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3. Heat & Hydration
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4. Proper Equipment Fitting
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5. Shoulder Tackling
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6. Blocking
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* Extended Resources
- Practice Guidelines
- Background Checks
- Player Safety Coach Clinics
- Safety Checklists
- Extended Coaching Tools
Does CTE call for an end to youth tackle football?
Despite press about a recent study, a link between hits to the head and CTE isn't clear-cut. More data and a risk-benefit analysis are needed.
This article is submitted on behalf of 26 brain injury experts in neurosurgery, neuropsychology, neurology, neuropathology and public policy at 23 universities and hospitals in the United States and Canada. Click to read more.
