USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, recently selected JIM BURKE of Livermore to attend the 2009 NFL Youth Summit in Canton, Ohio, from July 29-30. Burke is the president and commissioner of the Livermore Junior Football League, which is comprised of more than 200 youngsters from Dublin, Fremont, Livermore, Mountain House, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Tracy.
Burke was one of 25 local youth football leaders who recently attended USA Football's Northern California Leadership Forum at the San Francisco 49ers practice facility. He was chosen at random during this local USA Football event to represent the region at the NFL Youth Summit in Canton. USA Football's Northern California Forum is one of 38 meetings that the non-profit is holding across the country in 2009 to share best practices and foster positive football experiences for the game's youngest players. USA Football's 2009 Leadership Forum schedule will reach 1,000 league administrators in 25 states to impact approximately 20,000 coaches and 500,000 youngsters.
"This is an amazing opportunity," said Burke. "I look forward to go to Canton this summer and to bring back ideas that will help our league."
"Since 2006, dedicated volunteers who power youth football leagues have continued to enjoy sharing their knowledge and ideas at our forums," said USA Football Executive Director SCOTT HALLENBECK. "We're pleased to have Jim contribute to this discussion on a national level at the NFL Youth Football Summit in Canton, thanks to the support of the NFL and the NFL Players Association."
The NFL Youth Summit, funded by the NFL and NFL Players Association, assembles approximately 200 youth and high school coaches from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., along with grassroots football leaders, including former NFL players now coaching at the high school level. Included in the two-day summit is a USA Football National Forum to further strengthen the sport, involving one delegate from all 38 USA Football Leadership Forums.
NFL Youth Summit discussion topics will include:
* Character development
* Inspiring players to reach their potential
* The NFL's ATLAS & ATHENA Anti-Steroid Education Program
* Player hydration & fitness
* Role-playing demonstrations regarding coach-player-parent relationships
The NFL and the NFL Players Association have made a major commitment to invest in football's future with the establishment of the NFL Youth Football Fund and other programs.
About USA Football
USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, hosts more than 100 football training events annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners. The independent also non-profit manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competitions and provides more than $1 million annually in equipment grants and youth league volunteer background check subsidies. USA Football was started by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund and is chaired by former U.S. Congressman and professional quarterback Jack Kemp.
