EAGAN & INDIANAPOLIS – The Minnesota Vikings will provide more than 1,650 youth football coaches in Minnesota and South Dakota with USA Football's Coach Certification in 2024, benefiting thousands of youth football athletes, their families and communities across the two states. With this latest commitment, the Vikings have paved the way for 3,500 coach certifications to be certified for free since the start of 2022.
The Vikings and USA Football, the sport's governing body and a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), continue to work together to support grassroots football by preparing dedicated coaches with the knowledge and tools to provide athletes and their families with memorable experiences.
"Playing team sports provides young athletes with many benefits, including life lessons and camaraderie," said Vikings Vice President of Social Impact Brett Taber. "The Vikings are proud to partner with USA Football to grow the game and assist youth coaches and their programs with Coach Certification. Their comprehensive curriculum helps coaches teach young athletes the right football and life skills to be successful on and off the field."
Minnesota and South Dakota youth coaches working with leagues that enroll with USA Football are eligible to receive support from the Vikings and get certified at no charge. USA Football enrollment is free and open to all youth football organizations at usafootball.com.
USA Football's Coach Certification encompasses the Football Development Model (FDM), which focuses on progressive skill instruction, developing the whole athlete and building age-appropriate skills. The FDM was developed in partnership with a council of medical, child development, long-term athlete development and football subject matter experts drawn from the youth, high school, collegiate and professional ranks.
"USA Football is grateful to the Vikings for their continued trust and partnership," said USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck. "By providing coaches with USA Football's best-in-class Coach Certification, the Vikings will impact hundreds of communities and thousands of athletes."
Since 2012, USA Football has certified more than 1.1 million coaches in 50 states and numerous foreign countries across six continents. USA Football's Coach Certification is the only certification for youth football coaches accredited by the United States Center for Coaching Excellence's (USCCE) National Committee for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE).
About USA Football: USA Football is the governing body of American football in the United States, the sole US member of the International Federation of American Football, and a recognized sports organization of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Its non-profit mission includes designing and delivering premier educational, development, and competitive programs for American football, including tackle and flag football. USA Football is the only organization that selects and organizes men's and women's US National Teams in federation-sanctioned international competition.
