NFL Gives $45 Million Youth Football Grant

The NFL Foundation is giving USA Football a five-year, $45 million grant to expand the already burgeoning Heads Up Football program that teaches safe tackling to youngsters.

Foundation Chair Charlotte Jones Anderson announced the grant Monday at the league's owners meetings after the NFL saw the early success of the program. Heads Up Football had nearly 2,800 youth football organizations teaching it during its first year, more than five times early projections.

Heads Up Football is designed to "take the head out of tackling" and employs master trainers who teach it to coaches throughout the nation. Those coaches in turn instruct youth football players — about 600,000 in 2013.

Funds also will be used to increase NFL flag football league for boys and girls ages 5-17

Filed Under: Heads Up Program, NFL Foundation, USA Football

Categories: Action Sports, Football, Sports