AFA Encourages Semi-Pro Teams To Help Promote USA Football’s "Play Football Month"
While most semi-pro football teams across the country are busy tending to their own league schedules - they aren’t to busy to remember where they came from and many have pledged to ‘give a little something back to the sport’ in their local communities.
(PRWEB) August 28, 2005 -- While most semi-pro football teams across the
country are busy tending to their own league schedules - they aren’t to busy to
remember where they came from and many have pledged to ‘give a little something
back to the sport’ in their local communities.
The American Football
Association (AFA) is a national 501C(3) non-profit corporation in its 25th year
of operation and is dedicated to the advancement of semi-pro (adult amateur)
football in the United States. Recently the AFA pledged its support of the
NFL/NFL Players Association sponsored USA Football, Inc. in an effort to bring
more public awareness to both youth and adult amateur football in the United
States.
"This is an excellent opportunity for teams and leagues in our
sport to help bring some awareness to the Adult Amateur (semi-pro) level of the
game", said AFA President Ron Real. "Many of our semi-pro coaches and players
volunteer their time and efforts during the football season assisting youth
teams in their communities. By actively participating in “Play Football Month”
our semi-pro organizations can help bring attention to their own teams by
sponsoring one or more of the Play Football Month promotions suggested by the
USA Football organization."
The AFA is extending
an invitation to the more than 700 adult amateur football teams across the
country to participate in “Play Football Month” by supporting this worthy
promotion to bring attention to youth and amateur football at all levels during
the month of September.
Semi-Pro football organizations may become
involved in PLAY FOOTBALL MONTH by signing up online for free materials provided
in the USA Football, Inc. toolkit . . . or simply calling 703-918-0007 to
receive the promotional materials.
The end of summer signals the
beginning of the football season for millions of young players, their coaches
and families. The American Football Association is asking its member teams
coast-to-coast to team up with the NFL, NFL Players Association, and USA
Football, Inc. to celebrate the opening of the youth football season and salute
the participants in youth, high school, and college football by actively
participating in PLAY FOOTBALL MONTH.
PLAY FOOTBALL MONTH, an expansion
of last year's Play Football Week, will take place from August 25-September 30
at NFL stadiums and other communities from across the country. The celebration
theme is: "Be Part of the Football Family."
AFA semi-pro teams will join
NFL teams, colleges, high schools, and youth football organizations across the
country in hosting events and recognition programs in an effort to bring
additional attention to PLAY FOOTBALL MONTH.
NFL teams will offer free
tickets to youth football organizations for one home game during the third and
fourth (August 25-September 2) preseason weekends. Last year, NFL teams donated
55,000 tickets to youth and military personnel. Teams will recognize youth
football players during pregame ceremonies of many games by having them line up
in full uniform in front of NFL players on the sidelines during the playing of
the national anthem. Youth teams also will scrimmage during halftime of
designated NFL games.
Youth football organizations coordinating local
PLAY FOOTBALL MONTH events include: the Amateur Athletic Union, Boys & Girls
Clubs of America, Jewish Community Centers Association, National Association of
Police Athletic Leagues, National Federation of State High School Associations,
National Recreation & Park Association, Pop Warner Little Scholars, YMCA of
the USA, American Football Coaches Association, American Youth Football,
military bases, . . . and now, AFA semi-pro football member organizations.
"Football is more than just passing, running, blocking, and tackling.
You learn about working with others to achieve a common goal," said USA Football
Chairman JACK KEMP. "During Play Football Month, we salute the more than 12
million children who participate in the sport, along with the parents and
volunteers who make it happen, especially the coaches. As TROY AIKMAN said,
‘Youth football coaches are the true gatekeepers of the sport.'
The Play
Football Month Celebration Award will again recognize events that best celebrate
the sport of football and bring the community together. While NFL teams are not
eligible for the award, non-profit organizations with which they work are
eligible for nomination. Last year's winning celebrations included a pep rally,
parade, picnic, skills clinic, and scrimmage. Among last year's 11 winners,
several worked with their local NFL team, including the Naperville Pop Warner
(Chicago), Naples Gators (Miami), San Diego Youth Football & Cheer
Conference (San Diego), and Western New York Youth Tackle Football Federation
(Buffalo).
National print, radio and television messages about PLAY
FOOTBALL MONTH have already begun appearing. This year's ads feature Hall of
Famers DAN MARINO and JOHN ELWAY, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback BEN
ROETHLISBERGER, St. Louis Rams wide receiver TORRY HOLT, and San Diego Chargers
wide receiver KEENAN MCCARDELL.
For information on local events, check
the PLAY FOOTBALL MONTH events calendar at www.usafootball.com/play-football-month/celebrations/calendar/.
For Public Service Announcements click: www.usafootball.com/play-football-month/tool-kit/psa/.
USA
Football (www.usafootball.com) is an independent non-profit organization
that was launched by the NFL and NFL Players Association through a grant from
the NFL Youth Football Fund in December 2002. It is the first national advocacy
group created to galvanize, support, expand, and promote the sport of amateur
football. Jack Kemp, former Congressman and quarterback who led the Buffalo
Bills to the 1964 and 1965 American Football League Championship, serves as
chairman.
Portions of this American Football Association Press Release
were taken from copy provided to the AFA by USA Football, Inc. and reprinted
with their permission.
Media - contact Dave Burch at AFA National Office
(877)624-4485 or (941)388-3510
www.americanfootballassn.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/8/prweb277725.htm