Media Alert: Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association Officially Supports USA Football's Heads Up Football Program
MPSSAA endorsement of USA Football's Heads Up Football program marks a significant first in the sport
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andy Warner, MPSSAA Assistant Director, 410/767-0555 Rwarner@msde.state.md.us
Steve Alic, USA Football, 317/489-4417 salic@usafootball.com
Baltimore, MD (April 29, 2014)
The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) partners with USA Football to advance student-athlete safety and establish important standards by endorsing USA Football’s Heads Up FootballSM program. Heads Up Football is endorsed by leaders in medicine, child advocacy and sport.
Representing 24 school systems comprised of 187 high school football programs, the MPSSAA becomes the first state high school athletic association to endorse USA Football’s Heads Up Football program.
USA Football’s Heads Up Football program is a comprehensive approach that compliments current MPSSAA protocols for making a better and safer game. USA Football’s High School Coach Certification Course packages the latest information on concussion education, heat and hydration, proper equipment fitting and tackling techniques.
The MPSSAA joins the American College of Sports Medicine, National Athletic Trainers’ Association, National Federation of State High School Associations and more than two dozen other leading organizations in medicine, child advocacy and sport that partner with USA Football in support of Heads Up Football for better and safer play.
WHO: DONNA HILL STATON, ESQ., Maryland State Board of Education
NED SPARKS, MPSSAA Executive Director
SCOTT HALLENBECK, USA Football Executive Director
ANTHONY BURGOS, Head Coach, Franklin High School, 2013 Class 3A State Champion
KEVIN LYNOTT, Head Coach, Middletown High School, 3-time defending Class 2A
State Champion
DR. GERALD A. GIOIA, Chief, Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology, Children's
National Medical Center
WHERE: Maryland State Department of Education: State Board Room, 7th Floor
200 W. Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
SCHEDULE: Monday, May 5, 2014 - 11:00 a.m.
About MPSSAA: The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA), organized in 1946, is made up of public high schools from each of the 24 school systems. The purpose of the MPSSAA is to promote and direct public high school interscholastic activities in order to assure that those activities contribute toward the entire educational program of the state of Maryland. The MPSSAA currently includes 199 public high schools, with almost 119,000 student-athletes participating in 24 sports.
About USA Football: Indianapolis-based USA Football (www.usafootball.com) is the sport’s national governing body, leading the game’s development for youth, high school and other amateur players. The independent nonprofit partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and sport to establish important standards rooted in education. USA Football advances coaching education and player skill development for safer play and positive experiences through athletics.
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