Heads Up Football® is a comprehensive program developed by USA Football to advance player safety in the game of football.


COACHING CERTIFICATION
The sport’s only nationally accredited courses with content created from football experts and health professionals. Coaches with valid USA Football certification become eligible for coaching insurance benefits.


CONCUSSION RECOGNITION & RESPONSE
Education is the first step to help protect players from concussion.
Resources developed by the CDC help coaches and parents become educated on what to look for on the field and encourage attention to concussion symptoms.

Topics include:

• What is a concussion?
• Signs and symptoms of a concussion
• What to do when a concussion occurs

HEAT PREPAREDNESS & HYDRATION

Heads Up Football® strengthens its commitment to player safety by adding a heat and hydration training curriculum – with assistance from the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut.

Targeted education for coaches and parents increases the emphasis on prevention, recognition and basic treatment of athletes. Best practices reinforce heat and hydration-related safety at all levels.

• Defining the injury and prevention strategies
• On-field and off-field messaging to players
• Action plan for dealing with symptomatic athletes

SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST
Heads Up Football® provides instruction on how to have plans and procedures in place to quickly react in the case of cardiac events, the No. 1 cause of death for children and teens during exercise.


EQUIPMENT FITTING
Learn how to properly fit helmets and shoulder pads. Improperly fitted equipment can place an athlete at greater risk for injury.


HEADS UP TACKLING®
USA Football’s Heads Up Tackling® is a step-by-step protocol to teach the core principles of the skill and sets a new standard in player safety. The program utilizes five fundamentals through a series of drills to reinforce proper tackling mechanics and teach players how to properly tackle with a focus on reducing helmet contact.


HEADS UP BLOCKING
USA Football’s Heads Up Blocking helps coaches teach players how to properly engage with a defender, drive with the legs and maintain the correct body position for effective and safer play.