Donate Education & Training

Enroll Your Program Find a League Find an Event File a Report

For Coaches & Organizations
For Coaches
For Organizations
STEP UP TO THE STANDARD
Join coaches, officials, and organizations nationwide elevating their skills through USA Football's education and training.
Get Started
START YOUR PATHWAY
Whether you’re coaching or officiating, a USA Football ID begins your journey to the National Team pathway.
Learn More
For Athletes & Parents
Parent Guide
Access Now
Get Your Athlete ID
Learn More
Nominate an Athlete
Get Started
U.S. National Team
Teams & Competitions
Camps & Development
JOIN THE NATIONAL TEAM PIPELINE
View Adult & Youth Talent ID Camps
Learn More
GET NATIONAL TEAM UPDATES
Get alerts & stay updated on the U.S. National Teams
Sign Up
Tournaments & Events
Put Your Skills On Display
Check out upcoming Talent ID Camps near you
View Camps
About
Organization
Governance
Supporters
Media
Donate
Donate

Get ID Card Login

For Coaches & Organizations
For Coaches
Coach ID
Coach Tackle & Flag Course
Coach Training Program
Coach Advanced Flag Course
Coach Tools
Health & Safety
Football Development Model
For Organizations
Enroll Your Organization
Enrollment Plus+
Football Grants
Director of Player Safety Initiative
Flag Officials Course
League Finder Placement
League Resources
Football Background Checks
Football Insurance
Starting a Flag Football Program
For Athletes & Parents
Athlete ID
Age Verification & Roster Card
Health & Safety
Athlete Protection
Find a Football League or Team
Flag National Team Pathway
Parent & Guardian Resources
Football Development Model
Flag Football Camps
U.S. National Team
Teams & Competitions
Flag National Teams
Junior International Cup
Tackle National Teams
Competitions & Results
Camps & Development
Adult & Youth Talent ID Camps
National Team Development Program
Selecting the Team
Rules
Tournaments & Events
Flag Football Camps
Select Bowl
Summer Series
First Down Camps & Clinics
Blitz Community Events
Kick, Throw & Go
Find an Event
About
Organization
Overview
Contact Us
Board Of Directors
Consultants
Careers
BE100
Governance
Overview
National Governing Body
Councils & Committees
Athlete & Participant Safety
Commercial & Brand Guidelines
Supporters
Grants
Partners
Heart of a Giant
Media
Media Center
Blogs
Resource Library
Donate
Donate
Donate Now
Support USA Football
Stars & Stripes Fund
Login

Donate
Education & Training
Enroll Your Program
Find a League
Find an Event
File a Report
facebook
twitter
youtube
instagram

Giving Day

SUPPORT USA FOOTBALL

TODAY IS THE DAY. JOIN US TO FUEL THE FUTURE OF FOOTBALL.

STAY UPDATED

Want us to keep you in the loop? Create an account and never miss an update!

Please provide a valid email.

Contact USA Football

1-877-5-FOOTBAL

(317) 614-7750

support@usafootball.com

Connect

For Coaches & Organizations

Coach ID Coach Course Coach Training Program Coach Advanced Flag Course Coach Tools Health & Safety Football Development Model

Enroll Your Organization Enrollment Plus+Football Grants Director of Player Safety Initiative Flag Officials Course League Finder Placement League Resources Football Background Checks Football Insurance Starting a Flag Football Program

Coach ID Coach Course Coach Training Program Coach Advanced Flag Course Coach Tools Health & Safety Football Development Model

Enroll Your Organization Enrollment Plus+Football Grants Director of Player Safety Initiative Flag Officials Course League Finder Placement League Resources Football Background Checks Football Insurance Starting a Flag Football Program

Overview Contact Us Board of Directors Consultants Careers BE100

Governance National Governing Body Council & Committees Athlete & Participant Safety Commercial & Brand Guidelines

Grants Partners Heart of a Giant

Media Center Blogs Resource Library

Overview Contact Us Board of Directors Consultants Careers BE100

Governance National Governing Body Council & Committees Athlete & Participant Safety Commercial & Brand Guidelines

Grants Partners Heart of a Giant

Media Center Blogs Resource Library

For Athletes & Parents

Athlete ID Age Verification & Roster Card Health & Safety Athlete Protection Find a Football League or Team Flag National Team Pathway Parent & Guardian Resources Football Development Model Flag Football Camps

Athlete ID Age Verification & Roster Card Health & Safety Athlete Protection Find a Football League or Team Flag National Team Pathway Parent & Guardian Resources Football Development Model Flag Football Camps

U.S. National Team

Flag National Teams Junior International Cup Tackle National Teams Competitions & Results

Adult & Youth Talent ID Camps National Team Development Program Rules Selecting the Team

Flag National Teams Junior International Cup Tackle National Teams Competitions & Results

Adult & Youth Talent ID Camps National Team Development Program Rules Selecting the Team

Tournaments & Events

Flag Football Camps Select Bowl Summer Series First Down Camps & Clinics Blitz Community Events Kick, Throw & Go Find an Event

Flag Football Camps Select Bowl Summer Series First Down Camps & Clinics Blitz Community Events Kick, Throw & Go Find an Event

© 2026 Copyright USA Football

Privacy Policy Terms of Use Master Terms and Conditions

Inner Hero - Placeholder Alt

Home Coaches & Organizations Levels of Contact

Levels of Contact

Enhance youth and scholastic football athlete protections while enhancing skill development.

Image - Placeholder Alt

Levels of Contact

More opportunities for athlete development. Less risk of helmet-to-helmet contact.
Gradually increasing intensity levels introduce young athletes to blocking, defeating blocks and tackling drills that make it easier for them to master essential football skills.
Levels of Contact allows coaches to plan effective practices through a step-by-step approach to teaching the fundamentals — so players can build skills and gain confidence in limited full contact environments.

LEVELS OF CONTACT

NO PLAYER-TO-PLAYER

AIR Contact:

Player runs a drill unopposed without contact

BAGS Contact:

Drill is run with a bag or against another soft contact surface

CONTROLLED CONTACT

CONTROL Contact:

Drill is run at assigned speed until the moment of contact
One player is pre-determined the winner by the coach
Contact remains above the waist and players stay on their feet

CONTROL TO GROUND Contact:

Drill is run at an assigned speed non-competitive speed until the moment of contact
One player is pre-determined as the winner
Players are allowed to take their opponent to the ground in a controlled manner

FULL CONTACT

THUD Contact:

Drill is run at a competitive speed through the moment of contact
There is not pre-determined "winner"
Contact is above the waist
Players stay on their feet and a quick whistle ends the drill

Live:

Drill is run at a competitive speed in game like conditions

View Levels of Contact and Practice Guidelines