The NFL Gives Back – With Your Help

It’s the time of year in football where everyone’s attention turns to the NFL. Playoffs are starting soon, and, in another month or so, the league will crown a new Super Bowl champion. When you think of the NFL, you probably think of competitive football at its highest level. Spectacular plays, bone-jarring hits and fantastic finishes are par for the course. It’s a weekly exhibition by many of the world’s greatest athletes performing at the top of their games. You might also view the NFL as the greatest sports business venture of all time, and you’d be right. In addition to being the most successful television sport in history, the league is a marketing juggernaut that leads all other sports in most revenue categories. But there’s far more to the NFL than just the games or the business. In fact, the NFL also leads professional sports in another category – giving back to the community. Anyone who has watched NFL football for any length of time will certainly recall seeing public service announcements about the league’s partnership with the United Way and the volunteer work that that has been performed on the local level by players on all 32 NFL teams. The partnership, which has been benefiting communities for over 35 years, is one of the most enduring in all of sports.

But there are many other initiatives where the NFL takes an active role in making a difference for individuals and communities. There’s the highly visible “A Crucial Catch” breast cancer awareness program with the American Cancer Society that emphasizes annual screenings. There’s the NFL Play 60 program that helps combat childhood obesity by encouraging all kids to be active for 60 minutes each day. There are awards programs to recognize outstanding individuals. The list goes on and on.

The programs that interest us the most are those that directly influence the growth of the game at a grassroots level. NFL Punt, Pass and Kick is in its 50th year. NFL FLAG football has leagues for boys and girls coast-to-coast. And the NFL High School Player Development Program Presented by the National Guard is perhaps the best way for high school coaches across America to get involved in a program that gives back to the community through football.

The cornerstone of the program is the 150+ multi-day football camps that help high school athletes hone their football skills and also develop their character. The program also includes a national 7-on-7 tournament that is open to all athletes that participate in the camps. The camps are free to all athletes, so kids who could not afford to attend commercial camps can still participate and benefit from the NFL program.

The NFL encourages all high school coaches to be part of its national High School Player Development program. You can simply make sure your players are aware of the opportunity to participate in a camp in your local area. Or, if you are willing and able to really give something back to the game, you can volunteer as a coach in a local camp or even organize a new camp in your area with the NFL’s help. You can find out more on pages 8 and 9 of this issue.

The NFL strives to make a difference every day through its long list of community programs. You can help make a difference, too, by joining the NFL in the very worthwhile High School Development Program.

John Gallup Editor & Publisher