February 2018

SHAPE America, NFL & Partners Collaborate on Training for Health & P.E. Educators

By Deborah L. Vence

SHAPE America (Society of Health and Physical Educators) has joined forces with the NFL, USA Football, GENYOUth and Fuel Up to Play 60 to develop a new NFL FLAG-In-Schools online training course for health and physical educators.

The course is designed for grades 3 to 8, and the activities will align with SHAPE America's National Standards & Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education (PE). It is easy to integrate into existing PE curriculums or for use before, during or after school, according to information from SHAPE America, a membership organization of health and physical education professionals founded in 1885.

The goal of the NFL FLAG-In-Schools program is to increase physical activity among youth by providing flag football resources to schools in underserved communities. The online course offers video-based instruction, animated lessons and tips from experienced educators to help physical educators bring the program to life for students.

Lessons in the curriculum are divided into four sections that mimic an NFL player's playing experiences: Mini Camp, Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Pre-Season and Regular Season. Each lesson uses a combination of individual and small and large group skill development activities.

Seven modules are featured in the course. They comprise:

• Module 1 - NFL FLAG-In-Schools Program Overview
• Module 2 - Lesson Format in the NFL FLAG Football Curriculum
• Module 3 - Teaching Cues in the NFL FLAG Football Curriculum
• Module 4 - NFL FLAG-In-Schools Game Rules
• Module 5 - Sample Elementary School Activities from the Curriculum
• Module 6 - Sample Middle School Activities from the Curriculum
• Module 7 - Communication & Extending Flag Football Beyond PE

The NFL, USA Football, GENYOUth and Fuel Up to Play 60 first introduced the NFL FLAG-In-Schools Kits in 2014, which resulted in 4.3 million students becoming more active before, during and after school. This year, NFL FLAG Kits will be distributed to an additional 4,700 schools nationwide, reaching about 2.6 million new students.

The expansion was made possible by a renewed commitment from the NFL Foundation (a nonprofit organization that represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football and the communities that support the game) that amounted to nearly $1.5 million.

Each kit—provided to schools free of charge—includes footballs, flag belts, kicking tees, posters and access to the online curriculum. To date, the program has resulted in 6.9 million students becoming more active in more than 13,000 schools in all 32 NFL club markets.

The NFL Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support the game.

NFL FLAG, which is powered by USA Football, provides opportunities for children ages 5 to 17 to enjoy America's favorite sport.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program, and was launched by National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC). It is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. The program also encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

GENYOUth empowers students to create a healthier future for themselves and their peers by convening a network of private and public partners to raise funds for youth wellness initiatives that bolster healthy, high-achieving students, schools and communities nationwide.

USA Football designs and delivers premier educational, developmental and competitive programs to advance and grow the sport.