The NFL, USA Football, GENYOUth and Fuel Up to Play 60 announced they are expanding the NFL FLAG-in-Schools Program. The program serves to increase physical activity for our youth by providing flag football resources to underserved communities shared the National Football League (NFL). The program has garnered much success in its efforts since 2014. “The partners’ efforts have resulted in 4.3 million students becoming more active before, during and after school through NFL FLAG-In-Schools.”
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NFL FLAG-in-Schools Program Expanded to Reach Underserved Communities
The Program
Photo: Facebook/USA Football
Football is great engagement sport that not only provides a wonderful way to get in some exercises but is also a sport full of important lifelong lessons on sportsmanship, teamwork, and creating goals.
“This partnership provides much-needed resources to schools throughout the country to sustain their physical activity programs and positively impact students’ health and wellness,” said NFL Vice President of Youth and High School Football Roman Oben. “Football is a fun and engaging sport that teaches participants valuable life lessons both on and off the field. We are excited to expand the NFL FLAG-in-Schools program and offer more kids the opportunity to get involved in the sport and have fun.”
New this year they are also offering digital NFL FLAG-In-Schools training modules. The video-based instructions are free of charge to PE teachers nationwide and provide more educators access to the training, shared the NFL. “The modules follow a curriculum developed by USA Football and SHAPE America that meets national standards for continuing education. Teachers can access the training modules via the website: http://www.shapeamerica.org.”
NFL-FLAG-in Schools Kits
Photo: Facebook/Fuel Up to Play 60
The NFL-FLAG-in Schools Kits will be made available to 4,700 schools at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. According to the NFL, the kits are estimated to reach an additional 2.6 million new students. “The expansion was made possible by a renewed commitment from the NFL Foundation, amounting to nearly $1.5 million.”
Footballs, flag belts, kicking tees, posters, and a physical education (PE) curriculum designed by SHAPE America for elementary and middle school students are included in the kit to get students rearing to go and introduced to the basic in’s and out’s of football.
Since its inception in 2014, the program has garnered impressive results from educators all around in regards to the effectiveness of the kits and how they are inspiring students to be more physically active. Below are a few facts shared by the NFL on the positive results seen:
- Participants reported using NFL FLAG-In-Schools Kits in PE class, at recess, in intramurals, in tournaments, before and after school and in Fuel Up to Play 60 events;
- The program has significantly increased PE teachers’ confidence and ability to teach/coach flag football;
- Participants overwhelmingly felt their FLAG-In-Schools programs were successful – citing student enthusiasm for the game, especially girls’ interest in the game, older students’ willingness to teach younger students how to play and flag football’s increasing popularity over other sports as reasons for the success; and
- Participants representing a variety of school sizes unanimously reported that all of their PE students participate in FLAG-In-Schools, adding that a sizable amount of interest among students was generated by intramural play and recess play.
The Organizations
Photo: Facebook/GENYOUth
With the leadership and determination of the organizations involved, it assists in being able to provide underserved communities with the resources they need to get students more involved in physical activity through the “NFL FLAG-In-Schools Program.”
To learn more about NFL FLAG-in-Schools, visit FuelUpToPlay60.com. To find or start an NFL FLAG league in your community, visit NFLFLAG.com and for updates follow @NFLPlayFootball and @GENYOUth on Twitter.
About The NFL Foundation:
The National Football League Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health, safety, and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. For more information on The NFL Foundation, visit www.NFLFoundation.org.