Atlanta Falcons Hosted 4th Annual USA Football Youth Football State Forum

On Saturday, March 26, the Atlanta Falcons hosted USA Football’s 4th Annual Youth Football State Forum at the team’s training facility in Flowery Branch. The event was USA Football’s largest State Forum in history with nearly 90 youth football association presidents and/or board of directors from around the state at one location to discuss best practices and relevant issues regarding the sport of football.

The event kicked-off with a concussion awareness panel discussion with Dr. Julie Haarbauer-Krupa from the Brain and Spinal Trust Commission, Danny Long, Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Atlanta Falcons, Dr. David Marshall, the Medical Director of Sports Medicine at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Kelly Sarmiento, the Director of Communications for CDC’s Division of Injury Response and Dr. Ralph Swearngin, Executive Director of the Georgia High School Association.

Rick Peacock, Southeast Regional Manager of USA Football, spoke to the group about creating a state youth football association, best practices in coaching techniques and resources available through USA Football.  Craig Ramsey, Assistant Football Coach at Newnan High School, was on hand to provide tips and information on building a strong relationship between youth and high school football programs.  The forum also featured information on a variety of fundraising and group program opportunities. 

During the event, Glenwood Hills, P.A.S.S. Inc Mustangs, Columbia Area Youth Football Association, Lassiter Junior Trojan Football and Fairburn Athletic Association were randomly selected to each receive a $500 equipment grant courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation.

Marcus Barnes of the Youth Football Alliance and Jeff Hawn of Columbia Area Youth Football League each were randomly selected to receive a Coach’s Club equipment pack courtesy of Sports Authority.  In addition, Julia Crocker of Columbus Youth Football, Inc was selected to receive an all expensed paid trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH to represent the state of Georgia at this year’s NFL Leadership summit.  Each attendee received a special gift bag filled with Falcons items, literature about concussion awareness and information about USA Football resources.

2011 USA Football State Forum // The forum featured a panel of specialists to discuss concussion awareness // March 26, 2011 // Flowery Branch, GA

2011 USA Football State Forum // Royal Reed of New Birth Youth Football participated in the discussion with the concussion awareness panel // March 26, 2011 // Flowery Branch, GA

2011 USA Football State Forum // Bill Peake from Riddell provides the group with a demonstration on equipment fittings // March 26, 2011 // Flowery Branch, GA

2011 USA Football State Forum // Rick Peacock, Southeast Regional Manager of USA Football and Kendyl Moss, Director of Community Relations at the Atlanta Falcons, selected 5 youth associations to each receive a $500 equipment grants courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation // March 26, 2011 // Flowery Branch, GA

2011 USA Football State Forum // The event was USA Football’s largest State Forum in history with nearly 90 youth football association presidents and/or board of directors from around the state // March 26, 2011 // Flowery Branch, GA