Pink Footballs
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and for the fourth year, the National Football League is involved. The NFL continues its collaboration with the American Cancer Society to reinforce the importance of annual mammogram screenings with A Crucial Catch. Last year’s efforts reached over 151 million viewers, 40% of them women.
Hurray for the NFL’s willingness to support healthy habits for women. We are, after all, the mothers of all their fans, all their players, and much more.
Coach Mom: Corie Elkin
We are also youth football coaches and football players. In August, the NFL hosted an invitation only Youth Sports Health and Safety Luncheon during which I met Corie Elkin. Last year, she, along with four other women participated in USA Football’s pilot program: Coach Mom. As the official youth football development partner of the NFL, USA Football collaborates with the NFL to expand the game through educational programs and innovative resources.
More than 90 percent of youth football coaches are male. As youth football leagues are faced with the pressure of recruiting volunteer coaches, we saw an opportunity to widen the pool of potential coaches –USA Football
Coach Mom is in response to the challenges many schools and youth organizations face recruiting credible and responsible coaches. This program widens the pool of resources and makes it clear that, to deliver a positive youth football experience, education matters more than gender and prior playing experience. With USA Football’s hands-on training and access to its on-line resources, Coach Elkin led her team of 3rd graders to an outstanding season, finishing with a 7 and 1 record in the regular season making them number one seed for the play-offs. Congratulations Coach Elkin and Asst. Coach Kathy Gutting.
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