GREENSBORO – The Atlantic Coast Conference and USA Football announced a new partnership today that makes USA Football the official football development partner of the ACC.<\/p>\n
As part of the partnership, the ACC will show its commitment to youth football by taking part in USA Football\u2019s \u201cPut Pride Aside for Player Safety\u201d campaign. Select games on the ACC Network and its pregame show, \u201cACC Blitz,\u201d will air a USA Football-produced video message within its inventory that promotes player safety, directing youth football coaches to remove a player from a game or practice if concussion is suspected.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe partnership with USA Football is a terrific fit, as our conference and member institutions continue to believe strongly in the health and well-being of youth athletes,\u201d said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. \u201cWe are proud of this opportunity, which introduces young people to the fun and excitement of football.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are pleased that the ACC is part of the USA Football family and we commend the conference and its universities for their commitment to youth players\u2019 health and safety, emphasizing concussion awareness and management,\u201dsaid USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenback.. \u201cThe ACC shares USA Football\u2019s mission of ensuring that the game\u2019s youngest players have a positive experience playing our country\u2019s favorite sport.\u201d<\/p>\n
USA Football\u2019s \u201cPut Pride Aside\u201d video message and its other player health videos will reside on the ACC\u2019s website, www.theACC.com, ACC social media sites, and will be made available to each of the conference\u2019s 12 football members: Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, NC State, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.<\/p>\n
Prior to the Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game presented by Dr Pepper on Dec. 3 in Charlotte, N.C., USA Football will host a \u201cUSA Football FUNdamentals\u201d clinic, a fun skills-and-drills clinic designed to teach football basics to youth players. More than 1,000 children are expected to attend the clinic, which will take place at the Carolina Panthers\u2019 practice facility.<\/p>\n
Coaches and medical personnel of ACC football programs will be invited to serve on USA Football\u2019s Football and Wellness Committee, which is committed to the safety and development of America\u2019s 4.14 million youth and high school football players.<\/p>\n
In addition, select ACC football programs will host USA Football\u2019s U.S. Under-19 National Team player trials. The U.S. Under-19 team competes every February in the International Bowl, an annual competition matching it against a World Team composed of players age 19 and under from approximately one dozen countries. The World Team is managed by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). Team USA also will represent the United States in the 2012 IFAF Under-19 World Championship. Sixty-two (62) countries spanning six continents possess a national federation of sport dedicated solely to football.<\/p>\n
USA Football is the sport\u2019s national governing body in the United States with members \u2013 players, coaches, game officials and youth league commissioners \u2013 residing in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. In addition to the ACC, the Indianapolis-based non-profit is the official football development partner of the Mid-American Conference and the Patriot League as well as the NFL and each of the league\u2019s 32 teams.<\/p>\n
About USA Football: USA Football, the sport\u2019s national governing body in the United States, inspires participation, and ensures a positive experience for all youth and other amateur players. The independent nonprofit hosts more than 80 football training events annually for coaches, players and youth football league commissioners. USA Football is the official football development partner of the NFL and its 32 teams and manages U.S. national teams for international competition. Endowed by the NFL and NFL Players Association in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football distributes $1 million annually in equipment grants and offers youth league volunteer background check subsidies. Former NFL team executive Carl Peterson is USA Football\u2019s chairman.<\/p>\n
— News Release<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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