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EXHIBITOR SPOTLIGHTS GILMAN GEAR
ff Booth No. 709
Gilman Gear is the nation’s leading manufacturer of football field equipment. One of Gilman’s most popular products for coaches is the Roll Tackle Ring, which takes the head out of tackling.
NETWORK WITH OVER 1,000 COACHES AND ADMINISTRATORS | FEB. 22-24 | ORLANDO, FLORIDA | NATIONALCONFERENCE.USAFOOTBALL.COM
What You Can Learn Today The Saturday schedule is packed with high-profile speakers, chalk-talk sessions and Live Field demonstrations. Here’s a look at the featured speakers.
SHADOWMAN
PORT-A-FIELD
ff Booth No. 414
ff Booth No. 306
SuperFan is the ultimate engagement platform to have on your team. A suite of software and programs makes it easy to energize and connect with your community of fans.
PREVENT BIOMETRICS ff Booth No. 422
Prevent Biometrics’ head impact monitoring technology identifies athletes for concussion assessment through a data-driven process.
One of the nation’s most innovative, experienced and accomplished offensive coordinators in college football, Noel Mazzone, joined the Arizona coaching staff in 2018. He arrived in Tucson following two years as offensive coordinator for Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M. In 2018, three of Mazzone’s pupils started games in the NFL, including Philip Rivers, Brock Osweiler and Josh Rosen.
“PASS PROTECTION FUNDAMENTALS - TAKING YOUR DRILL WORK TO THE GAME”
Not only does Shadowman reduce the repetitive player vs player contact drills in practice, but it allows you to teach a Rugby Style tackle technique.
SUPERFAN
“GAME PLANNING, INCLUDING ONE-WORD TEMPO AND RPO PLAYS”
HERB HAND 3:45 to 4:30 p.m.
ff Booth No. 209
Since 2003, Port-a-Field has been the worldwide leader in portable reusable athletic field lining systems. Players need definitive lines that cones and imaginary lines simply do not provide.
NOEL MAZZONE 10:15 to 11 a.m.
Tennessee Volunteers coach Jeremy Pruitt will give a keynote address at 11:15 a.m.
Herb Hand, a veteran offensive line coach who has helped coordinate numerous dynamic offenses, spent his first season as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Texas in 2018. Over his 27-year coaching career, Hand has worked with programs that have produced six conference championships in addition to three division championships.
JEREMY PRUITT 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.
BOBBY APRIL 5 to 5:45 p.m.
Jeremy Pruitt became the head football coach at Tennessee in 2017, after cementing himself as the nation’s top defensive coordinator during stints at Alabama (2016-17), Georgia (2014-15) and Florida State (2013). Pruitt has five national championships to his credit, including the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship victory with Alabama.
Before retiring in 2017, April had 40 years of experience coaching at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. While in the NFL, April coached nine different teams and was awarded the NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year in both 2004 and 2008. Most recently, April served as the special teams analyst for LSU.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
FEATURED SPEAKER
MIKE TOMLIN
“RETURN AND COVERAGE CONCEPTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS”
12 to 1 p.m.
Tomlin is the 16th head coach in Pittsburgh Steelers history. Hired at the age of 34 in 2007, Tomlin reached 100 career wins in the fewest games (157) in team history. He also became the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl when he led the Steelers to a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
A Path to a Football Future USA FOOTBALL CEO KICKS OFF NATIONAL CONFERENCE WITH KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
U
SA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck delivered
the introductory keynote address last evening with a message to coaches to advance, unify and grow the game. Hallenbeck noted that he has been inspired by the conversations he’s had with coaches throughout the week. Hallenbeck’s speech focused on ways in which conference attendees could collaborate to reverse a drop in participation numbers for tackle football at the youth and high school levels. “It’s the curse of youth sports: too many games and too little focus on skill development,” Hallenbeck said. “We have to have a paradigm shift. We need to focus on skill development.” That renewed focus on skill development will be supported by the Football Development Model. Aligned with the U.S. Olympic Committee’s American Development Model, the Football Development Model (FDM) centers on physical literacy and developmentally appropriate skill instruction. The FDM serves as a framework for how football is presented, practiced and coached from youth through adulthood, spanning varying game types and options. Built on six core pillars, the Football Development Model is an athlete’s roadmap -- at any age -- to enjoy the game by participating in activities that are appropriate physically, mentally and socially. The six core pillars of the Football Development Model include: ■■ Whole person and multi-sport development ■■ Physical literacy and skill development ■■ Coach education and training ■■ Multiple pathways and training points ■■ Fun and fulfulling ■■ Participation and retention Hallenbeck also introduced to attendees the Football Development Model Council, which includes medical and child development specialists, long-term athlete development and American Development Model specialists, along with football subject matter advisors. Hallenbeck also expressed optimism in achieving the goal of unifying football leaders through the National High School Football Coaches Alliance, which had
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2019 USA FOOTBALL NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Former Navy SEAL Mark Divine
Gen. Raymond Odierno
USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck
its first official meeting yesterday morning. “Today was the first day we’ve really had a chance to build out strategy,” Hallenbeck said. Hallenbeck also unveiled opportunities USA Football will provide coaches to grow the game through equipment grants and a participation fund. USA Football welcomes innovative ideas that would benefit from financial support to help more kids enjoy the game. “We’re looking for sophisticated ways to address participation,” Hallenbeck said. Noting that only 16 percent of youth football players are females, Hallenbeck identified middle-school girls as a potential market to help increase participation numbers. “Girls want to play football,” Hallenbeck said. “Let’s give them an opportunity to do that.” Former Navy SEAL and SEALFIT founder Mark Divine also presented to the coaches, sharing stories that demonstrated how leadership, commitment and trust can help a team achieve more than a collection of individuals. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the 38th Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army, spoke first among the keynote speakers and shared how football helped carve out a life of achievement. He encouraged coaches to take the lead in helping to reverse the trend of decreased participation in football. “It’s up to us to come together and make sure we’re doing everything we can to give parents confidence that their sons and daughters should be playing this wonderful game,” Odierno said.
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Affordable Football Machine, the Aerial Attack Thousands of reps of
punts, kick-offs, pass reception and coverage at every practice
Introducing the NEW Aerial Attack Football machine that is designed for football programs on a tight budget. This unit will deliver right-footed deep spiral punts that turn over as well as end-over-end kick-offs for coverage and return practice. Plus‌ it throws both long and short passes for receiving and defensive drills. The machine pivots in any direction to challenge the defensive coverage or to instantly throw to an exact location. The two solid polyurethane throwing wheels grip the ball for a tight spiral and precise ball delivery. The Aerial Attack is easily moved around during practice or can be used with the Universal Cart Clamp to attach to any cart. Now all programs can afford to practice like the pros and make the most of every practice. P.O. Box 1529 | 2805 U.S. 40 | Verdi, NV 89439 tf 800.717.4251 | ph 775.345.2882 | w sportsattack.com
2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE What’s leadership without a system?
BRIAN KIGHT, FOCUS 3 MASTER THE COACHING OF COACHES BY BRENT GLASGOW
Brian Kight and Focus 3 are frequently sought out for their knowledge and skill in culture development. Focus 3, the leadership company Kight’s father, Tim Kight, founded – has helped Ohio State, Washington, Boise State, Houston, SMU, San Jose State and Texas State college programs, and even the NFL Chicago Bears, grasp often-elusive intangibles.
A
moment of destiny came in mid-2013,
when Tim Kight attended a fundraiser at Ohio State coach Urban Meyer’s home. The two chatted about the business, and Meyer extended an invitation to one of his leadership sessions, asking for feedback. “We told him he had great content, lots of energy and good messages, but the fact that it doesn’t have a system, it’ll struggle to get applied in any meaningful way,” Kight said. “He asked if we had a system, and we said, ‘We sure do.’” The Kights met with Meyer and staff, and spelled out
their system on a whiteboard. “About three minutes in, Urban told me to stop, turned to the others in the room and said, ‘Get on board, because we’re going all in on this,’” Kight said.
HOW TO COACH COACHES
Kight’s program is about developing culture – something that’s easy to say, but difficult to achieve. “Average coaches use quotes, good coaches have a plan, but elite coaches have a system,” Kight said. Kight helps each program design a “culture
playbook,” then teaches coaches and players how to live it, to build the culture they want and need. Just like its long-term corporate clients, Focus3 works with teams as they evolve, usually meeting with them four to six times a year.
Saturday 2:30 to 3:15p.m. “Culture and Execution”
Sunday 11:45a.m. to 12:30p.m. “Coaching and Connection”
McAllister’s Program Proves the Power of Football PHILLIPS ACADEMY (CHICAGO) HAS SUCCESS ON AND OFF THE FIELD BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
Phillips Academy coach Troy McAllister shared with coaches yesterday the impact a football program can have on a school and community in a seminar, “Setting High Expectations: From 12 Players to 14-0.” McAllister has helped lift a Phillips Academy program that had 12 players in 2010 to a two-time state champion.
S
tate championships were the last thing on
the Phillips Academy players’ minds when Troy McAllister started talking about setting high expectations in his new role as head coach in 2010. At the time, Phillips Academy’s academic scores ranked second-worst in the state of Illinois. The 12-player football team went 2-7 in the lower conference that fall. What’s occurred in the time since is nothing short of remarkable. The team has 100-percent graduation and college acceptance rates in the last five years. Seventeen players have signed National Letters of Intent for Division 1 schools. McAllister highlighted the Phillips Academy program values: “Family, Strong Men,
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2019 USA FOOTBALL NATIONAL CONFERENCE
and Peer Accountability.” Those values are supported through the leadership committee, which consists of five members of each class. When a player within the program struggles to meet expectations, McAllister mediates a roundtable discussion between the struggling player and the leadership committee. Each offseason, two members of the leadership committee and a coach are assigned to draft a team. Players are rated based off of their GPA, school attendance, weight room attendance and behavior write-ups. Teams are then scored every two weeks in an inter-team competition, which fosters camaraderie, team unity and competitiveness.
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2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE FRIDAY PHOTO OPPS
Get It Right owner Bob Arnone
Brainerd High (Minn.) coach and National High School Football Coaches Alliance Board Member Ron Stolski
St. Ignatius High (Ohio) offensive coordinator Nick Restifo
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2019 USA FOOTBALL NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Rochester High (Ill.) coach Derek Leonard
USA Football Senior Manager of Education and Training Andy Ryland
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2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE TackleBar Football Booth 223
Q&A WITH PRESIDENT AND CEO TIM HEALY Why did you decide to showcase your company at this year’s USA Football National Conference? “We are trying to get our message to as many youth and high school coaches as possible. TackleBar Football is a new and safer alternative that still preserves the tradition and integrity of the sport. We currently have thousands of kids playing TackleBar in over 25 states and we are looking to expand.”
What should attendees expect from your company in 2019? “Our mission is simple: increase participation at the youth level and teach good tackling techniques. We are part of the progression of football, bridging the gap between flag and tackle. Check out this new transitional game and see how it could benefit your program.”
What is the best way for an attendee to either get additional information on your product or place an order? “Please go to our website, tacklebar.com, for videos, news stories and information on how you can bring TackleBar Football to your community.” Tacklebar.com
Light Helmets Booth 401
Q&A WITH DIRECTOR OF SALES JODY MUNRO Why did you decide to showcase your company at this year’s USA Football National Conference? “We are a brand-new football helmet and heard that the USA Football conference is a ‘must attend’ to help brand our product, meet the proper decision-makers in youth football, and to learn more about the market and direction of football in the youth market.”
What should attendees expect from your company/brand in 2019? “A state-of-the-art helmet that combines NASA and racecar technology to provide a helmet that is lighter than any on the market without making a compromise to safety. We utilize existing racecar technology to try to provide a safer helmet. We also use some NASA-specific elements that allow us to create a helmet that is 1 to 2 lbs. lighter than the competition. We also guarantee 100-percent refurbishments on our helmets and have the ability to resize the same helmet by offering a variety of inserts, so parents can re-use the same helmet for years and for more than one child.”
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2019 USA FOOTBALL NATIONAL CONFERENCE
LightHelmets.com
What is the best way for an attendee to either get additional information on your product or place an order? “Either by going to website at lighthelmets.com or by sending any inquiries to jody@lighthelmets.com.”
FEB. 22-24 | ORLANDO, FLORIDA | NATIONALCONFERENCE.USAFOOTBALL.COM
SATURDAY, FEB. 23
Tackle Tube USA LLC. Booth 321 Q&A WITH CEO STEPHEN SLOAN
Why did you decide to showcase your company at this year’s USA Football National Conference? “We have been working with USA Football for the last two years, and this will be our third National Conference. It is the perfect audience for Tackle Tube. We always have very good conversations with coaches – not just about the benefits of Tackle Tube, but teaching proper technique to improve player safety and improved tackling.”
What new products will Tackle Tube be bringing to market in 2019? “We are very excited to bring our new Tech-Pad to the National Conference. We have been working on this for the last year, and coaches are loving the versatility of this new pad. It replaces shields to teach proper hand technique. It replaces agility/step-over pads. It is two pads in one. And with the additional handles, it can be used for many different drills.”
What is the best way for an attendee to get additional information on your product? “The best way is to take a look at our website and YouTube channel: TackleTubeUSA. That has lots of videos showing technique and different progression drills.”
TackleTubeUSA.com
Get It Right provides 3D animations in a Madden Football® format coaches can use to explain rules to their players. Designed by football officials, coaches can also understand how officials mentally process an act to determine if an infraction has occurred. Administrators can use the program to train officials and educate parents. Programs are available that include NFHS, NCAA, TASO/UIL, and IFAF rules. Find us online at
GetItRightTraining.com 09
2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
5 Takeaways from a Classroom Chalktalk MENTOR HIGH (OHIO) COACH STEVE TRIVISONNO ON “SPREAD OFFENSE PASSING GAME” BY DAN GUTTENPLAN
Steve Trivisonno became the Mentor High (Ohio) head coach in 1997 and began running the spread offense in 2000. He has led Mentor to a career record of 19669 (.740) with state runner-up finishes in 2006, 2007, 2013 and 2017. Trivisonno, who will begin his final season at Mentor in the fall, led a Classroom Chalk Talk session yesterday afternoon. Here are five takeaways.
1
The spread allows a coach to take advantage of depth.Trivisonno started
running the spread around the turn of the century because the strength of the team was its depth rather than its collective size. By playing fast and rotating players, the offensive scheme allowed his team to keep the opposing defense on its heels. “We want to score as many points as we can, and we’ve done a pretty good job of that over the years,” Trivisonno said.
2 3
Practice like you play.The key to the spread is creating mismatches in
numbers and matching blockers with defensive players. Trivisonno can rep plays that will be run in games over and over again, so that his team is better prepared to execute than the opposing defense. “Every objective that we give them is attainable,” Trivisonno said.
The spread creates balance. The goal of the Mentor offense is to
feature 4 to 6 ball-carriers and 5 to 7 receivers each game. This keeps players engaged and forces the defense to cover the entire field. Trivisonno acknowledges that every team is not blessed with the depth to feature up to 10 playmakers. “When we had Mitch Trubisky as our quarterback, we didn’t have a single ball-carrier, so we threw it around the field, and Mitch became our ball-carrier.”
4
The beauty of the spread is its simplicity.Trivisonno admits that he
doesn’t need to run more than a few different plays -- albeit with several variations to each formation. The key for the offense is to react to what the defense is doing. The quarterback must have the ability to pass from multiple launch points (quick game, drop back, roll out, play action, in and out of the pocket).
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The spread keeps the quarterback in rhythm. T rivisonno emphasized that
one first down puts the defense on its heels. A second first down makes his offense virtually impossible to stop. Once a quarterback is reading a defense on its heels, he has multiple options in his route tree to beat man and zone coverage. “We tell him to get it out quick, and go with it,” Trivisonno said. “A 5-yard gain is a good play for us.”
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2019 USA FOOTBALL NATIONAL CONFERENCE
SATURDAY, FEB. 23
FEB. 22-24 | ORLANDO, FLORIDA | NATIONALCONFERENCE.USAFOOTBALL.COM
Saturday’s Schedule USA Football National Conference (SCHEDULE AND SPEAKERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE) HIGH SCHOOL THEMES 9 TO 9:45 A.M. Rich Alercio, “Add SPO’s to Your Offense” 9 TO 9:45 A.M. Mike Judy, “Implementing a Two-Platoon System; Advice on Organization, Practice and Player Development” 9 TO 9:45 A.M. Matt Shimshock, “The Next Generation of Data Driven Coaching” 9 TO 9:45 A.M. Paul Nichols, “Multiple 3rd Down Blitz Packages” 9 TO 9:45 A.M. Dr. Koester, “Return to Play After Concussion: Protocols, Pearls and Pitfalls” 10:15 TO 11 A.M. Noel Mazzone, “Game Planning- Including One-Word Tempo and RPO Plays” 10:15 TO 11 A.M. Kurt Hester, “Conditioning the Modern Football Athlete” 10:15 TO 11 A.M. Mike Fox, “Blitzing to Stop the Run” 10:15 TO 11 A.M. Classroom Chalk Talk with Dave Walker, “Spread Offense Run Game” 11:15 A.M. TO 12 P.M. Keynote: Jeremy Pruitt 12 TO 1 P.M. Keynote: Mike Tomlin 1:20 TO 2:05 P.M. Chris Snyder and Mike Krueger, “Reimaging the Game: The Football Development Model” 1:20 TO 2:05 P.M. Richie Gray and Andy Ryland, “Grading and Evaluating Your Team’s Tackle” 1:20 TO 2:05 P.M. Robert Pomazak, “Building Fun, Investment and Character into a Year-Round Program”
LEARN MORE AT NATIONALCONFERENCE.USAFOOTBALL.COM/SCHEDULE
2:30 TO 3:15 P.M. Brian Kight, “Culture and Execution”
12 TO 1 P.M. Keynote: Mike Tomlin
3:45 TO 4:30 P.M. Bobby April, “Return and Coverage Concepts on Special Teams (Session 1)”
1:20 TO 2:05 P.M. Chris Snyder and Mike Krueger, “Reimaging the Game: The Football Development Model”
3:45 TO 4:30 P.M. Classroom Chalk Talk with Herb Hand, “Pass Protection Fundamentals – Taking Your Drill Work to the Game”
2:30 TO 3:15 P.M. USA Football Regional Managers, “Heads Up Football Implementation”
3:45 TO 4:30 P.M. Jeff Steinberg, “Friday Night Lights Preparation and Planning”
2:30 TO 3:15 P.M. Brian Kight, “Culture and Execution”
3:45 TO 4:30 P.M. Darnell Clark, “Fundamental Considerations for Developing a Successful High School Football Strength and Conditioning Program” 3:45 TO 4:30 P.M. LaTonya Pinkard, “At Risk Youth” 5 TO 5:45 P.M. Kevin Carberry, “Inside Run Fundamentals” 5 TO 5:45 P.M. Bobby April, “Return and Coverage Concepts on Special Teams” (Session 2) 5 TO 5:45 P.M. Rob Currin, Terry Summerfield, Vinny DiGaetano and Donny Lindberger, “Implementing the Advanced Tackling System” 5 TO 5:45 P.M. Matt Heckel, “Social Media: The Good, the Bad and Everything in Between” 5 TO 5:45 P.M. JT Curtis, “Building a Successful Program and Sustaining it Through the Decades”
5 TO 5:45 P.M. Kevin Lynott, Ron White and Geoff Meyer, “Legislative Panel” 5 TO 5:45 P.M. Matt Heckel, “Social Media: The Good, the Bad and Everything in Between” FLAG THEMES 9 TO 9:45 A.M. Grant Gameron, “How to Implement a Flag Division Into Your Tackle League” 10:15 TO 11 A.M. Rudy Fernandez, “Flag Football Defenses” 1:20 TO 2:05 P.M. Matt Reimel, “Flag Football Offenses” 2:30 TO 3:15 P.M. Mike Krueger and Andy Ryland, “Implementing FDM into Your Flag League”
5 TO 5:20 P.M. Tackle Tube 5:20 TO 5:40 P.M. Shadowman YOUTH THEMES
1:20 TO 2:05 P.M. Alex Golesh, “RPO Off of Inside Zone”
9 TO 9:45 A.M. Dr. Koester, “Return to Play After Concussion: Protocols, Pearls and Pitfalls”
2:30 TO 3:15 P.M. Nate Moore, “Building a Career as a Football Coach”
10:15 TO 11 A.M. Matt Sicchio and Kelly Pribbenow, “Risk Management”
2:30 TO 3:15 P.M. Classroom Chalk Talk with Steve Specht, “Defending the RPO”
10:15 TO 11 A.M. Rob Leach and Dave Inserra, “Bond Between Youth Leagues and High School Programs”
2:30 TO 3:15 P.M. Richie Gray, “5 Fights Progression”
3:45 TO 4:30 P.M. LaTonya Pinkard, “At Risk Youth”
11:15 A.M. TO 12 P.M. Keynote: Jeremy Pruitt
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