USA FOOTBALL AND THE InSideOut INITIATIVE PARTNER FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL COACHING ACROSS AMERICA'S YOUTH FOOTBALL FAMILY
INDIANAPOLIS – USA Football and the InSideOut Initiative have entered a multi-year partnership to further increase and elevate the prosocial benefits of youth football by developing the social-emotional and character skills of student-participants. These skills are essential for well-being and success in academics, athletics, work, and life. USA Football is the sport’s national governing body and a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
The evidenced-based InSideOut Initiative currently works with high school state educational and athletic associations to promote purpose-based athletics by connecting student-athletes to transformational coaches in a culture of belonging for their human growth and development.
This partnership represents the Initiative’s first with a national governing body of sport and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) member.
Featured within USA Football’s Youth Coach Certification, accredited by the U.S. Center for Coaching Excellence, the InSideOut Initiative equips organizations, coaches, and stakeholders to clarify the transformational purpose and power of youth football and coaching. USA Football’s national role across youth football has inspired and delivered more than 900,000 coach certifications since 2013, spanning all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and 10 foreign countries across four continents.
“As a former two-sport college athlete and 10-year NFL pro who has been involved in youth sports for decades, I’ve found that the best coaches are those who develop the personal growth of their student-athletes and understand success is not tied to the scoreboard,” said InSideOut Initiative Co-Founder JOE EHRMANN, a former defensive lineman for the Baltimore Colts (1973-80) and Detroit Lions (1981-82). “USA Football and the InSideOut Initiative are partnering to develop the type of transformational coaching so desperately needed to help young people become the best version of themselves.”
Within USA Football’s Football Development Model, “whole-person development” is one of six pillars for safer, smarter play and skill development.
“Teaming with a category leader like the InSideOut Initiative enables us to go beyond just valuing the cognitive, social, and emotional development of our children as one of the many benefits of playing football,” said USA Football Senior Director of Education MICHAEL KRUEGER, Ed.S., CMAA. “Together, we educate and train coaches, parents, and leaders to be intentional about teaching and modeling these valuable life skills that will help our student-athletes reach their full potential as people.”
USA Football’s Youth Coach Certification is available at usafootball.com/certification.
About The InSideOut Initiative: The InSideOut Initiative, co-founded by Joe Ehrmann and Jody Redman and empowered by the NFL Foundation, is an evidence-based, national movement that inspires, catalyzes, and equips organizations and school leaders to transform lives through purpose-based sports; connecting student-athletes to transformational coaches, in a culture of belonging for their social-emotional, character development. Learn more at insideoutinitiative.org.
About USA Football: USA Football designs and delivers premier educational, developmental, and competitive programs to advance and grow the sport. As the sport’s national governing body, member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and organizer of the U.S. National Team for international competition, USA Football partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and athletics to support positive football experiences for youth, high school and other amateur players.