Updates

As the NFL prepares to get Back to Football, the league celebrates youth athletes, their coaches, families and communities with special festivities during Play Football Month.

Play Football Month is a culmination of the league’s year-round recognition of youth and high school football. Throughout the preseason, the NFL, its 32 clubs and partners such as USA Football, highlight the talent, character, values and achievements of football players on and off the field.  

"Play Football Month is an exciting time for the NFL family to recognize youth and high school football players, coaches and communities as we celebrate the return of football," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "The NFL and its partners offer many resources to help ensure players at all levels have fun and enjoy the benefits of playing the game. We wish teams nationwide the best of luck as they return to action."

Football returns after the summer camp season, where more than 70,000 kids had the opportunity to play football with NFL players and coaches. This summer, the NFL Foundation awarded $1 million in grants to support 350 current and former NFL players' and coaches' free, non-contact youth football camps across the country.

The Youth Football Camp Grant Program, in its 20th year, recognizes NFL players and coaches who give back to their communities and offer young athletes the opportunity to play in a healthy and fun environment.

200 of the camp grant recipients worked with USA Football to host FUNdamentals Camps this summer, which introduce young athletes to football by teaching basic skills. All drills at FUNdamentals camps are based on USA Football's Player Progression Development Model, ensuring participants learn in an age-appropriate manner.

"The excitement of a new season, kicked off by Play Football Month, inspires us to prepare thousands of dedicated coaches through coaching education," said USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck. "These men and women instill the timeless values of discipline, sacrifice and teamwork that elevate athletes and communities alike through the fun of this great team sport."

In 2016, Heads Up Football, USA Football's player safety program, reached more than 1.3 million youth and high school participants and certified more than 142,000 youth and high school coaches. Ten youth football leagues will pilot USA Football's Rookie Tackle Program, a bridge between flag football and 11-player tackle. Additionally, more than 400,000 boys and girls participate in NFL FLAG powered by USA Football leagues across the country.

The NFL FLAG National Championships will take place in Orlando at the 2018 Pro Bowl. For a chance to play, visit PlayFootball.com and find an NFL FLAG league near you.