7:40 p.m. Friday
HEADS UP FOOTBALL ACROSS AMERICA ENDS IN CANTON, OHIO
NFL Media's "Heads Up Football Across America" tour ended Friday at the Pro Football Hall of Fame festivities in Canton, Ohio.
The last segment of NFL Network's series was a roundtable discussion about Heads Up Football with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Hall of Fame coach John Madden, NFL mom and wife Chris Golic and former NFL wide receiver Michael Irvin.
The discussions ranged from youth football ages to the safety of the pro game.
"When I played the game, you lined up over me, I wanted to punish you for lining up over me," Irvin said. "For the first few years when my sons were playing, I was trying to teach them the same thing, to send a message.
"As I started learning more and more about it, I started backing up. I said, 'Do what you do. Don't do what I did.'"
Golic, who had two sons who played NCAA Division I football, said there was one incident with her oldest son Jake and her husband Mike Golic, a former NFL player, that made her want to get more involved in football safety.
"When (Jake) was a senior in high school, he got his 'bell rung,'" she said. "He was taken off the field and my husband went over and saw him and talked to him with the EMT that was there. My son went back onto the field.
"I had a pit in my stomach when my husband put him back on the field that day, but I didn't say anything. Since then to (Mike's) credit, he has said that was a mistake and that was wrong. Those kind of changes are the reason I got involved with (Heads Up Football) to begin with."
Added Goodell: "One of the things that makes me most proud about the game of football is that every year we re-evaluate everything we do. From the rules to the equipment to the policies, we evaluate that and make changes. That's what makes the game more competitive and why it stays so popular."
12:40 a.m. Thursday
TRIP FROM PHILLY TO PHOENIX MAKES FOR LONG, HOT DAY
By Melanie Pimentel, NFL Network associate producer
Our Heads Up Football Across America team hit the road early Wednesday morning, leaving Philadelphia and heading back West.
This time to Phoenix, where NFL Media's Alex Flanagan took the reins. We checked out some Heads Up Football initiatives at the NFL level.
While the traffic slowed us in Philly, it was the weather that gave us a run for our money in Arizona. It already was 100 degrees at 10 a.m. PT when the plane landed.
Thankfully, Alex got to town early and was in makeup with air conditioned comfort interviewing Patrick Peterson when we arrived.
While the pros were all over the stadium Wednesday for Arizona Cardinals training camp, we were there to see a different group -- moms. They started arriving at about 4 p.m. when we did a few live segments for NFL Total Access and got to see some moms doing drills. It was part of a Moms Football Safety Clinic sponsored by the Cardinals.
We also got a visit from Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell, who took time to speak with Alex. He also stuck around to pose for photos and sign autographs.
Not letting the heat get them down, the moms learned about concussion and hydration awareness and then went onto the field for tackling drills.
The drive back to the airport was just as hot as when we arrived. Now it's time to board our plane and head back across the country.
Stay tuned to find out where NFL Media's Melissa Stark shows up next.
7:53 p.m. ET, Wednesday
ARIZONA CARDINALS' CALAIS CAMPBELL APPRECIATES PROPER TACKLING TECHNIQUES
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell talked about the importance of proper tackling techniques with Alex Flanagan during Wednesday's Moms Football Safety Clinic at University of Phoenix Stadium.
He said the Moms Clinic showed how much the game has progressed since he was a kid playing football.
"Now we have a lot of concussion awareness, which really wasn't there when I was kid," he said. "Before they taught you to put your head on the football. ... Nowadays they teach you to keep your head up, put your chest out and tackle with your hips.
"The game will be a lot better off when we learn to tackle better."
Campbell said he is more aware of the Heads Up tackling techniques since he suffered a spinal bruise last season in a game against the San Francisco 49ers.
His visit was part of NFL Media's "Heads Up Football Across America" tour, which stopped at the Arizona Cardinals' training camp in Glendale, Arizona. The five-day tour will end Friday at Canton, as part of Pro Football Hall of Fame events.
7:22 p.m. ET, Wednesday
GETTING READY FOR THE MOMS CLINIC AT CARDINALS' STADIUM
Alex Flanagan previewed Wednesday's Moms Football Safety Clinic at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The event was part of NFL Media's "Heads Up Football Across America" tour, which stopped at the Arizona Cardinals' training camp in Glendale, Ariz. The five-day tour will end Friday at Canton, as part of Pro Football Hall of Fame events.
6:10 p.m. ET, Wednesday
WHAT HAPPENS AT A MOMS FOOTBALL SAFETY CLINIC?
As the "Heads Up Football Across America" Tour continued Wednesday with a stop at the Arizona Cardinals' training camp in Glendale, Ariz., Alex Flanagan provided a feature on what happens during a mom clinic.
3 p.m. ET, Wednesday
IF IT'S WEDNESDAY, IT MUST BE GLENDALE
This week's "Heads Up Football Across America" Tour continued Wednesday with a stop at the Arizona Cardinals' training camp in Glendale, Ariz.
That's where Alex Flanagan will be reporting on the team's Moms Football Safety Clinic at University of Phoenix Stadium as "Heads Up" week moves to the pro ranks. The Cardinals have been one of the most active teams in Heads Up Football, hosting Moms Clinics in Arizona and Mexico.
Cardinals community relations director and former NFL kicker Luis Zendejas talked to NFL Evolution contributing editor Bill Bradley about what it's like to host Moms Clinics in another country. Click here to read about Zendejas' efforts.
11:14 p.m. Tuesday
HEADS UP CREW FLIES FROM TEXAS HEAT TO JAM IN PHILLY
By Melissa Stark, NFL Network correspondent
PHILADELPHIA -- At 8:25 a.m., we were wheels up in Dallas, leaving the humid heart of football country for our next stop: Philadelphia.
Our plane carried us about 1,500 miles over the Mississippi River, past our nation's capital and dropped us off in The City of Brotherly Love.
We hit the road in Philly, ready to complete the final leg of today's journey. But an unforeseen hiccup slowed us down: traffic! Even though we were not in rush hour, the highway was at a standstill.
Luckily, we built in enough time to accommodate any potential snags in our carefully laid plan. We took the next exit and weaved our way around surface streets, making our way toward Temple University, the site of St. Joseph's Prep's football practice.
When we finally arrived at the field, our crew and satellite truck were ready to go. Soon after, high school players ran onto the field. Following them was head coach Gabe Infante.
Last year, this team incorporated Heads Up Football and subsequently won a state championship. Check out our videos from this stop to see what happened when this team changed things up. It was truly an inspiring story, proving that playing safer can also help you play better -- and perhaps even help you win big.
On Wednesday I'm passing the baton to Alex Flanagan for the day. She will show you Heads Up Football at the pro level. Stay tuned to NFL Total Access to see what team she'll be at. And I'll be back on Thursday, reporting from a surprise location at the collegiate level.
In the meantime, please keep your fingers crossed that Midwest thunderstorms don't get in our way tomorrow. I'll be in the air again, jetting off to our Thursday destination.
See you there!
7:50 p.m. ET Tuesday
ST. JOSEPH'S PREP PLAYERS DISPLAY HEADS UP FOOTBALL TACKLING TECHNIQUE
Players from St. Joseph's Prep High School demonstrated the proper Heads Up Football tackling technique on Tuesday during the second stop of the "Heads Up Football Across America" tour.
Watched by NFL Media's Melissa Stark, the players showed how the USA Football program has taught them how to "rip" through a tackle with an upward motion rather than lead with their head.
The Hawks won a Pennsylvania state championship last season after adopting the Heads Up Football program.
7:35 p.m. ET Tuesday
ST. JOSEPH'S PREP SHOWS WHAT HEADS UP FOOTBALL CAN DO FOR A TEAM
During the second report on Tuesday's NFL Total Access, Melissa Stark told us about the St. Joseph's Prep High School football program and how it adopted the Heads Up Football program.
Stark, reporting for the second stop on the "Heads Up Football Across America" tour, showed how the coaches for the Philadelphia school changed the way the Hawks tackled and helped lead the team to a Pennsylvania state championship title last season.
7:20 p.m. ET Tuesday
ST. JOSEPH'S PREP HIGH SCHOOL COACH GABE INFANTE TALKS ABOUT HOW HEADS UP FOOTBALL IMPROVED TEAM'S TACKLING
During the first of three reports on Tuesday's NFL Total Access, St. Joseph's Prep High School coach Gabe Infante said the Heads Up Football program has helped his him improve their tackling technique.
"To win championships, you've got to play great defense, and great defense starts with tackling," Infante said during his team's practice in Philadelphia. "Implementing that program has really assisted us in developing our players and being able to evaluate our players and their tackling progression."
Infante's team, which won a Pennsylvania state championship after adopting the program last season, hosted the second stop of the "Heads Up Football Across America" tour, led by Melissa Stark.
Infante told Stark the "point of contact" is the most important area his team has learned in tackling.
"In many ways, it's what we've been teaching for many years," Infante said. "Come in with balance is important, breakdown position is important. But I think the point of contact, the front of the shoulder, which I think has provided other dividends that we didn't think it would do that for us."
Infante also talked about his work as a Master Trainer for the USA Football program.
"I go around the country doing player safety clinics for other player safety coaches that supposed to go back to their organizations and train their coaches, parents and the Heads Up mom," he said.
6:35 p.m. ET Tuesday
MELISSA STARK TALKS HEADS UP FOOTBALL WITH PENNSYLVANIA CHAMPIONS ST. JOSEPH'S HIGH
The first of Tuesday's reports on the "Heads Up Football Across America" tour aired on NFL Network's *Inside Training Camp Live *Melissa Stark met with the St. Joseph's High School Hawks.
Coach Gabe Infante talked about his work as a Master Trainer for the USA Football program. Also, some of his players demonstrated the "ripping" technique for tackling.
6:20 p.m. ET Tuesday
PENNSYLVANIA CHAMPIONS ST. JOSEPH'S HIGH LEARN FROM HEADS UP
Tuesday's stop in Philadelphia for the "Heads Up Football Across America" tour met with the St. Joseph's High School Hawks.
Click here to read NFL Network associate producer Melanie Pimentel's story on why the Hawks' integration took on the Heads Up Football program.
2:30 p.m. ET Tuesday
WHERE'S MELISSA STARK TODAY? SOMEWHERE IN PENNSYLVANIA
Where will the "Heads Up Football Across America" tour and Melissa Stark be stationed on Tuesday?
Click on the video above and you'll find Stark's crew will be in Philadelphia, where she will interview St. Joseph's Prep Academy coach Gabe Infante. His program was one of the first 35 high schools to be certified by the Heads Up Football Program in a pilot initiative.
Since its adoption by the National Federation of State High School Associations last year, every high school football program has been encouraged to sign up for the Heads Up program.
-- Bill Bradley, contributing editor
11:15 a.m. ET Tuesday
MELISSA STARK LOOKS BACK ON DAY IN DALLAS AREA
Before the "Heads Up Football Across America" tour left Arlington, Texas, on Monday, Melissa Stark filed this report to wrap up the day with the Arlington Thunder Youth Football Association.
9:53 p.m. Monday
NFL NETWORK CREW FEELS HEAT ON AND OFF CAMERA AS SERIES BEGINS
By Melissa Stark, NFL Network correspondent
ARLINGTON, Texas -- As we drive to Arlington from the Dallas/Fort Worth airport, the thermometer in our car reads 101 degrees. It's hard to imagine that in just a few hours, the Arlington Thunder Youth Football Association, part of the North Texas Pop Warner league, will be playing under the hot sun. And our live crew will be set up to tell the story in the oppressive heat. It's the glamour of live TV, I tell you.
But in all fairness, the heat is worth it. The Arlington Thunder has a great story to tell. After winning two national championships in the past 10 years, this organization is doing something different this season. They are now Heads Up certified. So on the first day of our "Heads Up Across America" series, we begin here in Arlington.
Cramped inside a tiny satellite truck, my producer and I strategize our segments for Inside Training Camp Live, NFL Total Access and NFL AM. I have an hour before we "go live," as we call it out in the field.
At 5:30 p.m. CT, practice begins and kids between five nd 12 years old swarm the field. Their enthusiasm is contagious and their coaches' dedication to safety is evident.
For my first live segment, I speak with Noni Ahlfinger, the Arlington Thunder's first-ever player safety coach. She also happens to be a mom -- her 10-year-old son plays for the team.
After our interview, Coach Joe leads us through one of the Heads Up drills with the five-year-old age group. These little pee-wees are so cute! Of course Noni critiques our performance, as it's her job to monitor the players and coaches to ensure everyone is following the Heads Up guidelines.
By 6 p.m. we are frantically waiting for two-time Super Bowl-winning champion and former Dallas Cowboys lineman Tony Casillas to arrive. Casillas also happens to be a Heads Up Ambassador, so he knows his stuff.
Texas traffic strikes again, so we move things around to accommodate Tony's segment. He plays a huge role in the Heads Up community here in the Dallas area, so it was important to have him join the show. By 7 p.m. we are filming our piece for NFL AMÂ tomorrow morning -- be sure to check it out.
And then we're off! A supposed cold front has blown in with some gusty winds. ... It felt like a sign that it's time to move on to our next location.
So long, Dallas. Thanks to everyone -- the Arlington Thunder, our crew, and Tony Casillas for making this day rock.
See you tomorrow.
7:45 p.m. ET Monday
MELISSA STARK LEARNS HEADS UP FOOTBALL TACKLING TECHINQUES
NFL Media's "Heads Up Football Across America" tour started Monday in Arlington, Texas, and Melissa Stark learned about the USA Football initiative first-hand.
Stark was taught the basics of Heads Up tackling with the help of former NFL player Tony Casillas and the coaches and players of the Arlington Thunder youth football team.
The Thunder signed up for the Heads Up Football program during the offseason despite making it to the national playoffs nine of the past 10 years.
7:25 p.m. ET Monday
TONY CASILLAS EXPLAINS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HEADS UP FOOTBALL AMBASSADOR AND MASTER TRAINER
NFL Media's "Heads Up Football Across America" tour's stop in Arlington, Texas, on Monday featured a discussion with former NFL player Tony Casillas.
Casillas, who is best known for his play with the Dallas Cowboys, the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Jets, signed on two years ago as an Ambassador for the Heads Up Football program. He talked about the role of an Ambassador and a Master Trainer in the USA Football initiative.
"It all started with a trip to Indianapolis for a course on being an Ambassador," he said while the Arlington Thunder youth football team was practice behind him. "We learned about the five basic principles of tackling. People don't realize that tackling violent way in terms physicality, but there's a way that you teach it.
"You're not going to take the total violence out of football, but as kids you want them to learn step by step."
7:10 p.m. ET Monday
STARK DISCOVERS HOW PLAYER SAFETY COACH HELPS WINNING YOUTH TEAM
About 10 miles from the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium, NFL Media's "Heads Up Football Across America" tour began in Arlington, Texas, on Monday by looking at the Arlington Thunder youth football team.
During NFLÂ Total Access, Melissa Stark talked about how the tour will cover Heads Up Football on the youth, high school, college and pro levels.
Stark talked in this segment about how a winning youth team adapts to the Heads Up Football program. A player safety coach will play a big part of that transition.
6:30 p.m. ET Monday
ARLINGTON THUNDER DEMONSTRATES CONCUSSION PREVENTION
NFL Media's "Heads Up Football Across America" tour began in Arlington, Texas, on Monday during NFL Networks Inside Training Camp Live.
Correspondent Melissa Stark showed how the Heads Up Football program is being used by the Arlington Thunder youth football team to combat concussions.
2 p.m. ET Monday
HEADS UP ACROSS AMERICA STARTS IN METROPLEX
A youth football league in Arlington, Texas, is the first stop for NFL Media's Heads Up Football Across America.
Look for reports on NFL Network's Inside Training Camp at 6:30 p.m. ET and NFL Total Access at 7 p.m.
Also, click here to read a feature by NFL Media associate producer Christine Detz on the youth football league that will the focus of the report.
11:35 a.m. ET Monday
HEADS UP FOOTBALL ACROSS AMERICA BEGINS TODAY
All this week, NFL Media's Melissa Stark will take you on a tour of how USA Football's youth football program has influenced the game around the United States.
"Heads Up Football Across America" will provide reports around the country on Heads Up Football's influence at the youth, high school, college and pro level. Today's first stop will be somewhere in Texas.
Reports will air on NFL Network's NFL AM, Inside Training Camp Live and NFL Total Access. Follow this post for frequent updates, bonus stories and videos.
-- Bill Bradley, contributing editor
