FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                CONTACT:     Lori Hamamoto
NFL-32                          7/21/03                                                                         (212) 450-2435

NFL SELECTS 50 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACHES TO ATTEND THIRD ANNUAL YOUTH FOOTBALL SUMMIT
DURING HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

150 Coaches and Administrators Attend Summit in Canton, OH July 31-Aug. 3

Fifty top high school football coaches, representing each state, will participate in the third annual   NFL Youth Football Summit from July 31 – August 3, during the 2003 Hall of Fame Weekend in Canton, OH.

In addition to these coaches, more than 100 youth coaches and other supporters of youth and high school football will attend the weekend of educational seminars, which are designed to support the youth coaching community.

Several football experts and NFL greats, including former Dallas Cowboys personnel chief Gil Brandt, as well as leaders in the fields of sports psychology and sports medicine such as sports psychologist Dr. Kevin Elko, Dr. Bill Prentice of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, and motivational speaker Zachary Minor will be on hand to discuss topics vital to the continued success of youth and high school football.  The NFL and the NFL Players Association, which have made a major commitment to investing in the game with the establishment of a $150 million NFL Youth Football Fund and other programs, will fund the summit.

“We have more than 1,600 players on our NFL rosters, “says NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE.  “They have one thing in common. They received guidance from high school coaches.  The Youth Football Summit is one way that we can offer our resources on an annual basis to help maintain the quality of coaching throughout the country.”

Other topics at the summit will include: using technology; injury prevention and sports first-aid practices; role-playing demonstrations on handling coach-player relationship issues; recognizing talent; and tips on inspiring youth and high school football players to achieve their greatest potential.

Representatives from USA Football, the American Football Coaches Association, National High School Athletic Coaches Association, and National Federation of State High School Associations will participate in discussions on the importance of leadership and the benefits of football.

High school football coaches registered for an opportunity to attend the summit by entering a nomination and essay contest conducted by the NFL through its high school website, NFLHS.com.  Coaches submitted online essays in which they wrote about their coaching careers, commitment to youth and coaching philosophies.  A blue-ribbon panel, consisting of local state representatives, reviewed the essays, and 50 coaches – one from each state – were chosen to serve as their state’s delegate at the summit.

More than 150 individuals who are involved in youth and high school football will participate in the events, including former NFL players currently coaching youth and high school football; football and academic coaches from the NFL-National Football Foundation Play It Smart program; high school football coaches; from five major international areas and youth football coaches and administrators from the nation’s largest youth sports organizations.

The NFL’s commitment to youth and high school football also will be featured in a special NFL-editorial supplement that runs Friday, August 1 in USA Today.

To view a video clip from last year's Summit and find out how you can be a part of all of the action in 2004, log on to www.nflhs.com.   NFLHS.com, and NFL.COM will cover the events throughout the Hall of Fame weekend.

50 STATE DELEGATES FOR 2003 HIGH SCHOOL COACHING SUMMIT