THE NATIONAL STANDARD IN FOOTBALL COACHING

CERTIFICATION

USA Football’s Coaching Education Program (CEP) is designed to train coaches who are responsible for the on-field development of youngsters, ages 5-14, playing organized youth flag and tackle football. The CEP offers coaches and commissioners two forms of education that include online coach certification courses and the USA Football Coaching School, a clinic designed exclusively for youth football coaches.

AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULUMUSA Football’s Coaching School and its Level 2 online coach certification courses are powered by the Player Progression Development Model (PPDM), a curriculum designed to provide age-appropriate content for five different age groups, including Under-6 (U-6), U-8, U-10, U-12 and U-14. This innovative and first-of-its-kind system was developed by USA Football’s expert Football and Wellness Committee and is reviewed annually to insure we recommend the most appropriate techniques for youth coaches.

THE RIGHT

AGE THE

RIGHT STAGE

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A GREAT TOOL FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATIONSYouth organizations have a responsibility to provide youngsters with a positive and safe football experience. If a coach can teach the proper fundamentals, create a safe environment in which to learn and make the game fun, your chances of retaining that player the next football season will increase. The implementation of our Coaching Education Program for all coaches is an investment that every organization can make to ensure a greater experience for its players. That’s a WIN for youth football.

PROGRAM BENEFITS• Delivers organization-wide coaching education and tracks the success of your coaches online• Improves a coach’s ability to run more effective practices within a positive and safe environment• Ensures that coaches have a better understanding for concussion, heat emergency preparedness and

equipment fitting• Delivers techniques for working with parents and creating a positive team environment • Enhances the competitiveness of your organization with better trained coaches• Certified coaches receive a certificate, appear in the USA Football National Coaching Registry and

become eligible for coaching insurance benefits.

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ONLINE COACHING EDUCATION PROGRAM

USA Football’s online Coaching Education Program provides youth football commissioners with a resource that can help them annually certify and set a standard for volunteer youth flag and tackle coaches. USA Football is committed to providing youth coaches, from beginner to advanced, with a program that challenges their abilities to teach the most progressive skills and techniques by age group. The diagram below breaks down the current USA Football coach progression pathway.

LEVEL 1 TACKLE CERTIFICATION COURSE• Course included within Coach Membership • Course generally takes 90-120 minutes and

can be completed at any pace online • Includes 16 chapter quizzes coaches must

pass with a per chapter score of 80 percent or better

• Course sections include: Coaching Theory, Understanding the Game and All Player Skills (Ex: Tackle Progression)

• Health & Safety content includes Concussion Awareness, Heat Emergency Preparedness and Equipment Fitting

• Annual recertification quiz includes 50 multiple choice questions and must be completed in one sitting

LEVEL 1 FLAG CERTIFICATION COURSE• Course included within Coach Membership • Course generally takes 60 minutes and can be

completed at any pace online • Includes six chapter quizzes coaches must

pass with a per chapter score of 80 percent or better

• Course sections include: Coaching Theory, Understanding the Game, All Player Skills, Position Skills and Scheme

• Health & Safety content includes Concussion Awareness.

• Annual recertification quiz includes 50 multiple choice questions and must be completed in one sitting

USA Football’s Level 1 Flag and Tackle Certified Coaching Education courses serve as the entry point for all coaches to begin their coaching development. These courses include an annual recertification quiz to provide youth football organizations with an easy-to-use solution, ensuring their volunteer coaches are trained and ready to teach their players every season. All Level 1 courses have been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education.

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COACH CERTIFICATION COURSE AND RECERTIFICATION QUIZ SPECIFICS

LEVEL 1: CORE COURSESTACKLE AND FLAG CERTIFICATION

This accreditation makes USA Football’s Coaching Education Program the ONLY football-specific coaching program to receive accreditation from the NCACE, the standard in coaching education. More than ever, coaches can trust that a USA Football coaching education is the best way to ensure your players have a great youth football experience.

WHO IS THE NCACE?The NCACE is “The Coaching Standard” for content presented within any formal coaching education program. It promotes and facilitates coaching competence within all levels of amateur sport by overseeing and evaluating the quality of coaching education programs. The NCACE is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee, the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE GAMEThis accreditation confirms that football now has its guideline for coaching education. Commissioners and coaches can turn to our Level 1 online courses knowing that it has been given a full review and proved to be the nation’s most comprehensive coaching education course.

THE PROCESS OF ACCREDITATIONThe Process of Accreditation For six months, the NCACE reviewed our Level 1 Coach Certification for tackle and flag. This exhaustive review ensures that our courses meet each of the following NCACE Domain Requirements:

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LEVEL 1 COACH CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ACCREDITED BY THE NCACE

LEVEL 1: CORE COURSESTACKLE AND FLAG CERTIFICATION

• Domain 1 - Philosophy and Ethics • Domain 2 - Safety and Injury Prevention • Domain 3 - Physical Conditioning• Domain 4 - Growth and Development

• Domain 5 - Teaching and Coaching• Domain 6 - Sport Skills and Tactics • Domain 7 - Organization and Administration• Domain 8 - Evaluation

Level 2 of USA Football’s Coaching Education Program is designed for coaches who want to improve their ability to coach and provide the best development experience for their players. This continuing education track offers coaches five age-appropriate courses starting from U-6 flag to U-14 tackle. Course content is presented using streaming video that teaches coaches a set of age-appropriate on-field skills that can be used as a foundation for players to master before they advance to the next age division.

AGE-APPROPRIATE COURSE SPECIFICS• Course offerings include U-6 (Flag), U-8, U-10,

U-12 and U-14 • Level 2 courses can be accessed by USA Football

coach members who completed their Level 1 certification

• Video instruction is provided by coaches from our U.S. National Team program

• Completion of an age-appropriate course serves as an annual recertification credit

- Courses can be purchased individually

CURRICULUM• Physical Skills • Working with Parents • Technical Skills • Tactical Development • Team Warm-up • Effective Practice Planning • Mental, Emotional and Social Abilities • Volume and Intensity

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LEVEL 2: CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSESAGE-BASED TACKLE AND FLAG CERTIFICATION

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HIGH SCHOOL COACHING EDUCATION PROGRAM

THIS COURSE OFFERS• Student-centered curriculum on essential

football coaching techniques and methods for interscholastic coaches

• Level 2 courses can be accessed by USA Football coach members who have completed their Level 1 certification

• Video instruction is provided by coaches from our U.S. National Team program

• Four unit chapters and tests dedicated to educate and assess coaches on the following areas:

- All Player Skills (Catching, Tackling) - Offensive Team Skills (QB, RB, WR, TE and OL) - Defensive Team Skills (DL, LB and DB) - Special Teams (Kickoff Teams, PAT/FG, Punting Teams)• Course content is presented to the coach

through 2D and 3D animations• Coaches earn a certificate of completion after

completing four unit tests• Practical methods for increasing

student participation• Coaches who register receive a

complimentary USA Football Coach Membership

This course was developed in partnership with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). It provides high school coaches with a basic understanding of high school football fundamentals, and it serves as the final requirement as part of the NFHS Coach Certification program.

FUNDAMENTALS OF COACHING FOOTBALL COURSE

USA Football has instructed more than 20,000 youth football coaches through its standardized Coaching Schools. Hosted in more than 25 locations nationwide from April to July, these one-day clinics feature a combination of classroom lessons and on-field practical experience. The content presented and discussed is broken down by age levels consistent with USA Football’s Player Progression Development Model (U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14). Attending coaches have the opportunity to register for the age group they will be coaching in the fall so that the material is tailored to their needs.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING A COACHING SCHOOL

• Age-appropriate classroom and on-field instruction provided by trained USA Football clinicians • Become a better teacher of the proper

fundamentals by position and create a safer environment for your players

• USA Football T-shirt and gift bag • USA Football Certificate of Attendance • Opportunity to order your USA Football

Coaches Handbook at a reduced price

FOR MORE INFORMATION If interested in learning more about the Coaching Education Program, call USA Football at 1-877-5-FOOTBALL or contact your Regional Manager. usafootball.com

COACHES REGISTRY Coaches who complete one of USA Football’s certification courses or attend a Coaching School are recognized for their commitment to improve their coaching skills in the Coaches Registry.