How the NFL Can Help

The development of youth football is one of the NFL's top priorities. Our support of youth football programs is conducted through a group of organized partnerships known as the NFL National Youth Football Partners. These eight organizations are national youth-serving agencies that are recognized for their positive work with children through athletics and mentorship programs.

The NFL National Youth Football Partners receive grants from the NFL Youth Football Fund to help support youth football development and permit thousands of young people to participate in a variety of flag and tackle football programs. In addition, affiliates and branches of these national organizations may apply for grants to develop and support innovative youth football programs on the local level. We have found that this is the most organized and effective way to support football at the grassroots level.

***At this point in time, if you are an independent school, league, team, or other local organization that is not currently affiliated with one of the National Youth Football Partners, the NFL can not currently support you through grants, equipment, uniforms, or other means. Feel free to contact any of the organizations listed below to explore potential partnerships for the future.***

At the end of this page you will find the contact list for the NFL National Youth Football Partners. If you are affiliated in any way with one of these organizations, please correspond directly with the national office to obtain information about the funding opportunities for youth football programming. All requests should be in writing, and you should inquire about the NFL's Local Agency Grant Program.

Play It Smart Program

The NFL has been a primary funder of the National Football Foundation's "Play It Smart" program, a scholastic football program which provides a systematic way for scholastic sports to help transform the lives of young people for the better. The key to the program is the introduction of an "academic coach," an athletically-oriented counselor, who typically spends half of their working week with the team. In brief, the academic coach brings the kind of extra attention to the players' off-the-field development that most head coaches would like to provide if they had the time and training and resources.

For more information, contact Charles Gomes, National Director of Play It Smart, at cgomes@footballfoundation.com.

You can also visit the Play It Smart website, hosted by the National Football Foundation.

Coaching Academy Program

The NFL has also worked with the National Football Foundation to develop and deliver the NFL/NFF Coaching Academy Program. The program provides necessary training for football coaches at all levels and helps ensure that youth and high school football programs are staffed with individuals who are prepared to focus on the social benefits and character-building attributes developed through participation in the game of football.

For more information, contact Hillary Jeffries at 1.800.486.1865 or hjeffries@footballfoundation.com.

You can also visit the NFL/NFF Coaching Academy Program website, hosted by the National Football Foundation.

NFL Grassroots Field Grant Program

The NFL Grassroots Field Grant Program is a joint venture between the NFL and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). The initiative provides non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations with financing and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of local football fields in schools and parks. Since its inception, more than 100 fields have been built in more than 45 cities, bringing the total contribution to nearly $15 million. This program is part of the NFL Youth Football Fund.

For more information about the program and eligibility requirements, contact Beverly Smith, Program Officer for Youth Development at LISC, at 212.455.9800.

You can also visit the LISC Youth & Recreation website as well as download the NFL/LISC 2006 Community Football Fields Program Grant Application here (PDF File).

NFL National Youth Football Partners

	Amateur Athletic Union Ms. Pam Marshall PO Box 22409 Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 pam@aausports.org www.aausports.org
	American Youth Football & Cheer Ms. Jessica Laufer 1000 South Pointe Drive TH 9 Miami, FL 33139 jlaufer@americanyouthfootball.com www.americanyouthfootball.com
	Boys & Girls Clubs of America Mr. Wayne Moss 1275 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30309 info@bgca.org www.bgca.org
	Jewish Community Centers Association Mr. Steve Becker 15 East 26th Street New York, NY 10010 info@jcca.org www.jcca.org
	National Association of Police Athletic Leagues Ms. Sheila Palmer 658 West Indiantown Road, Suite 201 Jupiter, FL 33458 copnkid@nationalpal.org www.nationalpal.org
	National Recreation & Park Association Jay Richardson 22377 Belmont Ridge Road Ashburn, VA 20148 info@nrpa.org www.nrpa.org
	Pop Warner Mr. Jon Butler 586 Middletown Boulevard, Suite C-100 Langhorne, PA 19047 football@popwarner.com www.popwarner.com
	YMCA of the USA Ms. Maricar Ramos 101 North Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 fulfillment@ymca.net www.ymca.net