Hall of Famer Bruce Smith tells parents to watch helmets closely

Thursday's Heads Up Football news:

• Former Buffalo Bills star Bruce Smith talked to Norfolk, Va., parents about the importance of having a properly fitted helmet, WVEC-TV reported.

• Scholastic magazine reported that 13-year-old Karlie Harman became the first girl to win Player of the Year in a Washington, D.C., area youth football league.

• The Middletown (N.Y.) Times Herald-Record looked at the battle in its community for players between two Heads Up Football leagues, talking to new league founder Reggie Steed.

• USA Football's Performance Blog wrote about the importance of preseason meetings to prepare coaching staffs.

-- Bill Bradley, contributing editor