Redskins Kick Off USA Football "Play Football" Campaign
The Washington Redskins and USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, will host 1,100 youth football players from over 20 different youth football organizations on Thursday, August 28 to celebrate the "Play Football … it's more than a game" campaign.
Twenty-five youth football players representing Fort Belvoir Youth Football will stand with the Washington Redskins cheerleaders to welcome the Washington Redskins through the inflatable helmet and onto the field for the start of the game. In addition, the official Coin Toss Observer and Kick-Off Kids for the game will represent members of three different youth football organizations. These youth football players are among 100,000 youngsters who will attend preseason games nationwide as part of "Play Football" through team-donated tickets. The August 28 game also will feature in-stadium promotion through "USA Football" field stencils, banners, public address announcements, JumboTron video messages.
USA Football is also distributing "Captain's Packs" free of charge through usafootball.com to the first 5,000 youth football leagues wishing to recognize youngsters' leadership qualities. By receiving a free Captain's Pack, youth coaches obtain 25 "C" Captain jersey patches, 200 helmet decals, and 25 Captain's Pledges that a young player signs as a commitment to good sportsmanship.
The "Play Football" campaign will feature "I Played" public service announcements, featuring six everyday professionals in their respective work environments united by the leadership and strong character traits they gained by playing football – a sport that employs teamwork to attain success. The "I Played" television message invites viewers to usafootball.com to share memories of playing football and how the game has enriched them as people. Arlington, VA resident Jay Hedley, an Air National Guardsman and fighter pilot who has flown combat missions in Iraq, Bosnia and Afghanistan, joins five other professionals from varying career fields in USA Football's "I Played" message. All six credit playing football in helping them learn the importance of teamwork and responsibility to develop their character and attain success in their respective careers.
"I started playing football in the ninth grade and continued through college," said Hedley, who was an all-conference football player at Weston (Conn.) High School and was a wide receiver at Worcester (Mass.) Polytechnic Institute through his sophomore year. "Football taught me discipline and that has translated to my career in the business world."
The Washington Redskins are committed to supporting and enhancing youth football in the Washington, DC area. The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation regularly teams up with youth football teams for programs including 4th & Life, youth football clinics, Atlas and Athena, Coaches in the Classroom, and Fields for Tomorrow. For more information on these programs, visit www.Redskins.com/community.
In addition to promoting football's values, the Play Football campaign also celebrates the sport's rising participation figures. According to the independent sports marketing firm The Bonham Group, 3.2 million youngsters ages 6-14 played tackle football in 2007, up from 3.0 million in 2006.
About USA Football
USA Football, the national governing body of America's favorite sport on youth and amateur levels, hosts nearly 100 football training events per year offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league administrators. The independent non-profit manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competitions. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football is chaired by former U.S. Congressman and professional quarterback JACK KEMP.
About the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation
The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation, the nonprofit philanthropic arm of the team combines the influence and popularity of the Washington Redskins with the resources and assets of Washington area corporations. Founded by Redskins owner, Daniel M. Snyder, the Charitable Foundation is guided by its Leadership Council that consists of CEOs who help shape and define the philanthropic efforts of the Redskins to achieve a measurable impact on youth development in the areas of education, community outreach, and health and wellness. Visit www.Redskins.com and click on Community for more information.
