Better Techniques Through Certification
Create solid skill development for your players through USA Football’s Youth Tackle Certification. This year, there are several enhancements designed to make a positive impact on your football team. Focused on making you a better coach for your players, these resources feature blocking, defeating blocks, and tackling techniques that improve performance and make the game safer.
TWO WAYS TO GET CERTIFIED
ONLINE
Take the online version to master the techniques at home.
IN-PERSON
Get certified on-site and ask engaging questions with a Master Trainer.
CONTACT CERTIFICATION COMPONENTS
Principles of Blocking &
Defeating Blocks
Enhance fundamental skills for blocking and defeating blocks.
What you’ll learn:
- BLAST – Base, Long, Ascend, Square, Triangulate
- BRIDGE – Overview of enhanced blocking techniques
- PILLAR – Overview of skills to defeat blocks
- BUCKLE – Overview of shoulder contact
- Benefits of Force Deflection over Horizontal Push
Core Techniques of Proper Shoulder Tackling
Master the coaching methodology behind a safer and better way to tackle with Rocky Seto.
What you’ll learn:
- Form Tackling and Leverage
- Shoulder Tackling Drills
- Thigh and Drive and Thigh and Roll Techniques
Critical Coaching
Foundations
Learn about the self-coaching tool SPPAAT and the ability to identify risky techniques on the gridiron.
What you’ll learn:
- SPPAAT – A guide to help players improve and self-coach
- Athletic Principles – From posture to physiology to movement
“This is a technique sport, and the technique they’re teaching at USA Football is huge … I can tell you everything my youth coach taught me to this day, so it’s so important that our youth coaches teach the right things, teach the proper fundamentals.”
Andy Reid, Head Coach, Kansas City Chiefs
IMPROVE PLAYER SAFETY, EQUIPMENT LIFESPAN, PLAYER MOVEMENT AND PRACTICE PLANNING
Non-Contact Certification Components
Concussion Recognition and Response
Education is the first step in concussion awareness and player protection.
Heat Preparedness and Hydration
Targeted instruction puts the emphasis on prevention, recognition and basic treatment of athletes with best practices for heat and hydration safety at all levels.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Teams learn how to put procedures in place to quickly react in the case of cardiac events — the No. 1 cause of death for children and teens during exercise – with instruction driven by the University of Washington Harborview Medical Center.
Proper Equipment Fitting
Equipment that doesn’t fit or isn’t worn right can increase the risk of injury. That’s why every coach gets guidance in how to properly fit helmets and shoulder pads.
Coaching 101
Learn the roles of coaches, the keys to communication and how to plan practices for skill development.
Youth Coaches
Learn core coaching skills and how to build player fundamentals in USA Football’s Youth Tackle Certification.
Rookie Tackle Course
Learn and get tested on the rules and tactics of Rookie Tackle.
Flag Certification
Learn fundamentals to coaching Flag football.