Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio and his wife Linda made a special appearance at the Duval County Public Schools high school principal and athletic director meeting on Thursday, August 19, in the Touchdown Club at EverBank Field to announce his support of Keeping Young Athletes in the Game. The pilot program will place trained athletic trainers in eight Duval County Public Schools to enhance sports safety programs for student athletes. With the financial support of Coach Del Rio and others, two part-time athletic trainers who will be a part of this pilot program for Duval County Public Schools high school sports were introduced.

Licensed athletic trainers are allied healthcare professionals responsible for the prevention, management, and care of injuries at all levels of physical activity. They serve as the liaison between the athlete and physician, as well as the athlete and coach.

Keeping Young Athletes in the *Game*addresses Coach Del Rio's desire to provide meaningful interactions and mentorship to our youth. Young people who experience the meaning of sportsmanship while caught in the grips of athletic competition receive an understanding of life that will help shape their own personal philosophies and enhance their lives in the future.

Keeping Young Athletes in the *Game*is designed to provide optimum sports safety for our youth and to encourage our youth to pursue sports activities, maintain a high level of physical fitness and experience the personal development through sports that builds character, self discipline and leadership.

Coach Del Rio showed his support by presenting a $40,000 check to Wolfson Children's Hospital and the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program, which will be responsible for oversight and management of this pilot program. The check was the first installment of Coach Del Rio's $80,000 pledge to the program.