Tri-State Leadership Forum
The home of the Giants hosted USA Football’s first Tri-State Leadership Forum.
By Giants.com

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March 4, 2008

The home of the Giants made some extra room for football’s smallest players on March 1 in hosting USA Football’s first Tri-State Leadership Forum.

Like the 2007 Giants season, March 1 marked a historical day as USA Football invited nearly two dozen youth football league organizers from Connecticut, New Jersey and New York to share their best practices to further strengthen America’s favorite sport at the grassroots level. Leading the meeting was USA Football Northeast Regional Manager Ed Passino, who played football at SUNY Brockport.

Attendees represented national programs like Pop Warner and American Youth Football as well as strong independents like the Watchung Hills (N.J.) Junior Football Association and the Parkville Youth Organization in Brooklyn, N.Y. In total, the administrators spoke for 4,000 coaches and 20,000 football-playing youngsters who dream of being the next Eli Manning or Osi Umenyiora.

USA Football is the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels. Based near Washington, D.C., the non-profit organization provides coaching and officiating education, equipment grants and other resources to youth leagues and high school programs. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002, former U.S. Congressman Jack Kemp is USA Football’s chairman.

“By partnering with USA Football, the Giants continue a tradition of commitment to the region’s youth football leagues,” said Beth Roche, Giants director of marketing services and youth programs. “We’re proud to support USA Football and the sport’s future by positively impacting the game in our community.”

The gathering in Giants Stadium’s South Tower is one of 37 USA Football State Leadership Forums in 2008, reaching approximately 800 youth football administrators to benefit 40,000 coaches and 450,000 youngsters nationwide.

Key items discussed in East Rutherford, N.J., included:

1. Coaching education
2. Greatest challenges facing youth football leagues
3. Age and weight participation rules
4. Player, parent and coach conduct

“The attendees shared viewpoints and feedback regarding the many issues facing youth football in the region,” said USA Football’s Passino. “Communication was fluid. The commissioners discovered that they’re not alone in their respective battles of securing enough fields to play and practice or finding enough qualified volunteers to coach and officiate. We also spoke of how to best raise funds to meet the financial needs for equipment as the sport’s participation increases. And USA Football can help in all of these areas.”

“I was glad to be a part of this,” said Harlem Knights Youth Football Commissioner Tina McCline. “It was very informative. I got to meet a lot of different people and organizations and I learned how other organizations are run – it was excellent.

“We’ll be using the free league and team web sites (through usafootball.com). I was excited about that as well as the coach’s insurance plan (that is included with a coaching membership and completion of Course Level 1 at usafootball.com).”

Colville Bascom has directed the Co-Op City Cowboys Youth Football League in The Bronx for four seasons. Bascom, a USA Football member and ardent Giants fan, came away from the home of the Super Bowl Champs energized. “The forum was great,” he said. “It was eye-opening to learn how so many youth programs prepare differently for the season. It was also great to see a mixture of organizations, from Parks & Rec leagues to the ‘Mom & Pops’ who may not have the resources as other organizations, but who field competitive programs every year.

“USA Football is unifying youth football and that’s great. The standards they’re upholding are sound. They’ll only grow and improve youth football across the country.”

Adds USA Football’s Passino, “We work for youth league administrators and as the sport’s national governing body, USA Football seeks to find and serve every youth organization in the country. Thanks to the Giants, this past Saturday made youth football even stronger.”

At each of its 37 state forums this year, USA Football randomly selects one present administrator to attend the NFL Youth Football Summit in Canton, Ohio, this summer. Approximately 200 top coaches and administrators gather at this annual event to discuss topics vital to the continued success of youth and high school football. Receiving this special invitation from the Tri-State forum is Ed Sofo, director of the Watchung Hills Junior Football Association and Patriot Youth Football League in northern New Jersey.

The State Forum represents just one of the many efforts the Giants put forth in the community to support youth football. In addition to the Forum, they conduct a youth football coaching school in the summer, as well as a ticket donation program in support of Play Football Month, staged during the pre-season. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Giants youth football database, please fill out the link found here!