Football is America’s favorite sport, and Heads Up Football is changing the way the game is taught at the youth and high school level. USA Football is asking football moms, dads and coaches to tell us why they believe in football and how the game has influenced their lives. Share your story, and we will consider it for inclusion in this series. Make sure to include your name, hometown and a photo with you and your favorite football people to accompany the feature.

***

In the spirit of sharing youth football stories about teams that put kids first and uphold safety standards that ensure long term success for athletes, ours is one of the best.

The South Forsyth Youth Football Associationin Cumming, Ga., was formed in 2012 to offer an opportunity for highly motivated fifth- and sixth-grade players with a desire to one day play football at the high school level. We are part of the North Metro Football League of Atlanta, which services Northeast Georgia and is part of USA Football’s Heads Up Football program.

The SFYFA DII division team has complete access to the state-of-the-art high school facilities for practices and all home games, helping young players gain valuable experience in a familiar setting. In essence, we act as a feeder organization for the South Forsyth High School football program since our players will attend this high school, and they gain confidence and comfort – and community pride –by playing on the same field where they watch the high school team on Friday nights.

This year, our sixth-grade team is led by Chad Payne, one of the founding coaches of SFYFA. He coached the fifth-grade team last year and is strong advocate of emphasizing fundamentals and providing a fun-filled practice and game environment while maintaining a competitive atmosphere. His coaching philosophy is centered on the longterm perspective of his young athletes.

“We have incredible talent on our team, and I am all about preparing these boys for the future,” he said. “It’s all about making this sport fun and memorable for them while improving the fundamentals of the game. For many and hopefully all these kids, there is a bigger picture here, and as coaches it is our job to provide the best and safest situation in which they can learn this great sport.”

Chad recognizes that 11- and 12-year-olds are still developing and strives to instill in each player the importance of building character and mastering the basics while playing within their abilities.

Chad and his coaching staff understand that parents are concerned about their kids’ safety while playing tackle football because of the recent spotlight on concussion rates. Through Heads Up Football, he and the league make parents part of the learning process through concussion awareness, heat preparedness and hydration, proper equipment fitting and tackling fundamentals.

Thanks to USA Football’s Head’s Up Football program, SFYFA leadership has access to resources to help them make the game safer for the players and a create better overall competitive experience. Communicating the best information available on proper technique in everything from equipment fitting in the spring to practice drills and game day strategy gives this team a powerful advantage both on and off the field. The goal is for every player to stay healthy and motivated to play their best football week in and week out, to grow from the life lessons learned and cherish the memories.

Go War Eagles!

South Forsyth Youth Football Association sixth-grade War Eagles

Pictured left to right: First row – Adam Hoss, Tyler Nelson, Cole Harris, Cameron Cheeley, Trevaon Greene, Hoffman Moore.

Second row – Michael Bergin, Alex Massey, Camedon Payne, Layne Hewlitt, Jake Brown, Gavin Rodrigue.

Third row – Wesley Kane, Bradley Hutchinson, Brandon King, Chris Vitucci, Davis Klepchick, Devon Hursh, Zach Layne, James Broderick.

Coaches – Scott King, Lane Hulett, Jim Kane, Chad Payne, Mike Layne, Doug Hewlitt, Sid Rodrigue.