Jacksonville P.A.L. in North Florida has committed to the future of youth football by adopting a new USA Football program dedicated to making the game better and safer. The Heads Up Football program ensures a positive youth football experience and advances player safety by providing leaguewide coaching education and teaching resources that benefit players, parents and coaches.

USA Football is the official youth development partner of the NFL, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the league's other 31 teams. This youth league is among more than 900 youth football organizations nationwide that will incorporate Heads Up Football into its 2013 season.

Former Jaguars tight end Pete Mitchell will work alongside select area leagues throughout the 2013 season as an NFL Ambassador. Mitchell was a fourth-round pick by Jacksonville in 1995, playing the first half of his eight-year NFL career with the Jaguars. He caught 279 passes for 2,885 yards and 15 touchdowns in all.

Other former Jaguars working with coaches, parents and players to advance Heads Up Football as NFL Ambassadors include Blane McElmurry (Montana).

Participating league coaches will be trained in Heads Up Football techniques before leading their teams this season. All head coaches and assistant coaches will complete USA Football's accredited Level 1 Coach Certification Course, which includes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concussion recognition and response protocols; proper helmet and shoulder pad fitting; and Heads Up Tackling techniques, which aim to take the head out of the line of contact.

Parents can help ensure their youth football players are participating in a better and safer brand of football by visiting www.USAFootball.com, where they can enroll their leagues as Heads Up Football leagues and ensure that their coaches are certified.

"The health and safety of every youth player is USA Football's No. 1 priority," USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck said. "This league shows exceptional dedication to its players, parents and coaches, and we are proud to have them be part of Heads Up Football. Each of them is committed to the highest standards of player safety and coaching education in all of youth sports."

Through Heads Up Football, each league will nominate a Player Safety Coaches to be trained by USA Football. Player Safety Coaches will evaluate and monitor Heads Up Football player safety protocols within the organization as well as work with league commissioners, coaches, parents and players throughout the season to provide on-site clinics and mentoring to ensure that coaching and player safety best practices are used.

Adopted in 2013 by youth leagues on a national level, Heads Up Football requires five primary elements:

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USA Football's Heads Up Tackling technique was developed with contributions from USA Football's Tackle Advisory Committee, which includes Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald, UCLA head coach Jim Mora, former NFL running back Merril Hoge, Miami Christopher Columbus High School head coach Chris Merritt and sports psychologist Dr. David Yukelson.

Learn more about Heads Up football at: www.usafootball.com.

About USA Football:USA Football, the sport's national governing body, leads the game's development, inspires participation and ensures a better and safer experience for all youth, high school and other amateur players. The independent nonprofit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competitions and awards more than $1 million annually in equipment grants and youth league volunteer background check subsidies. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002, USA Football (www.usafootball.com) is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.