Youth Issue

The following pages dedicated to youth football are the first of what I know will become an annual supplement to our magazine. This is our effort to help the thousands of men, who give so willingly of their time to enrich the lives of the young men playing youth football at parks and sandlots across the country. Whether it be Pop Warner, Police Athletic Leagues, Park and Rec. leagues, or NFL Flag teams, the youth coach is the backbone of the sport. These teachers are coaches and mentors in the truest sense of the word. They shape the lives of young boys at a time when they are most impressionable, and we here at American Football Monthly want to do our part to give something to these coaches and league administrators to help them.

In these special pages, our readers will find stories on: dealing with problem parents; what the NFL is doing to preserve the game; proper equipment fitting techniques; practice schedules for limited practice time and some drills for any age player.

I hope that these articles and the ones to come in future years will make the tough task of being a youth coach a little easier. I would encourage you to write or e-mail me (bterranova@lcclark.com) with your ideas, thoughts and suggestions on how we can help the nation's youth coaches and league officials, the men and women who I believe are the real heroes of the football world.

Sincerely yours,

Barry Terranova
Publisher

Thanks to the heroes...

Youth IssueThe Parent TrapThe coach-parent relationship can sometimes be a volatile mix
by Gene FrenetteBig Apple Dreamin'A NFL-sponsored pilot program is seeking to breathe new life into inner-city football
by Roger RubinThe Right Fit
Making sure uniforms and helmets fit securely isn't just fashionable. It's about safety. Presenting some tips.Getting Started
If you think you should coach youth football the way you were coached in high school or college, don't.
by John T. ReedThe Issue of Insurance
As if it isn't enough to worry about while preparing to field a league, make sure your league has potential liabilities covered.