USA Football hosts Protection Tour

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The largest governing body for youth football leagues in the country has teamed up with the NFL to tackle a very physical issue: safety in the game.

USA Football , headquartered in Indianapolis, will hold three sessions July 21 to promote proper equipment fitting, tackling fundamentals and concussion awareness and management for children ages 7 to 14.

With the help of helmet maker Riddell, Chartis Insurance and four NFL teams (Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers) USA Football is bringing player safety to the youngest of athletes.

"Your head's going to be up,” says USA Football Executive Director, Scott Hallenbeck. “You're not gonna be turned to the side, you're going straight in and your head's going to be out of the tackle."

USA Football’s Heads Up Tackling approach is part of the Protection Tour. It advocates that by tackling with the body, instead of the head and neck, the potential for injury is diminished. The Indianapolis-based nonprofit was the first national governing body of sport to partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to advance youth player safety against concussion in 2007.

“It’s important to make sure that kids know how to tackle right,” says Purdue University standout and NFL Linebacker Anthony Heygood. “They’re not supposed to tackle with their heads down because that can cause neck problems. That's how kids get stingers. So, coaches need to teach proper technique. ”

The Protection Tour comes just as a new Indiana state law takes effect, stating a high school athlete who is suspected of having a concussion must be removed from the game and may not return until they've received a written clearance.

Research has shown multiple concussions can lead to permanent brain damage... even early onset dementia. There's even a link between brain injuries in children and a diagnosis of ADHD.

Indianapolis Colts' Team Physician and USA Football Medical Director, Patrick Kersey has been helping athletes post-concussions for years.

"Historically, head injuries and concussions have not been treated or evaluated as seriously or scrutinized to that extent. Now we are because we understand there may be potential long term ramifications to that."

Dr. Kersey will also lead a conversation about concussion education during the Protection Tour. The seminar will include concussion awareness and management guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The third component to the Protection Tour will be instruction from Riddell equipment fitting experts who show parents how to properly fit and care for a football helmets and pads.

The event will be held Saturday, July 21st at the Colts Complex at 7001 W. 56th Street in Indianapolis.

For a link to sign up for the event, click here .