1,700 Coaches Safe Contact Trained in 2015

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 21, 2016) -

Editors Note: There is an infograph associated with this press release.

Football Canada in partnership with the Canadian Football League (CFL) announced that over 5,000 football coaches are now "Safe Contact trained" in the latest tackling and blocking techniques. The figure includes approximately 1,700 coaches who were Safe Contact trained in 2015 alone.

"Football Canada and its member associations are committed to the safety of its athletes," said Football Canada president, Richard MacLean. "As visible through the high number of coaches which have become Safe Contact trained this past year, the response amongst Canadian coaches, teams and associations has been incredible."

"We look forward to building upon this success by working with the provincial football associations and community to increase the number of Safe Contact trained coaches across Canada."

The number of Safe Contact trained coaches will continue to accelerate as the amateur football community gears up to meet a series of deadlines requiring all coaches, under the Football Canada umbrella, to become Safe Contact trained by March 31, 2017. The program, announced in early 2015, require that all head coaches, as well as half of their assistant and position coaches become Safe Contact trained by the end of March, 2016.

An integral part of Football Canada's National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), Safe Contact teaches safe tackling techniques that emphasizes making contact with the chest and front shoulder and not the head.

Safe Contact also emphasizes a blocking technique that stresses making primary contact with the hands, along with safety education and awareness.

Starting in 2014, Football Canada teamed up with the CFL to expand and improve the Safe Contact program as part of a shared commitment to player health and safety.

A blitz of Safe Contact events are scheduled across Canada to help coaches become trained in safe tackling blocking techniques, along with safety education and awareness.

Safe Contact training events planned across Canada

Safe Contact training events are available across the country, leading up to the start of the season. Coaches are asked to visit www.SafeContact.ca, coach.ca's 'The Locker' or contact their respective provincial football association for more information. Leagues and associations are urged to contact their provincial association, if they'd like to discuss running additional training in their area.

A coach can become Safe Contact trained by following three easy steps:

1. Take the online course "Making Head Way in Football", an e-learning module available through www.coach.ca's "the locker".

2. Register for a Safe Contact clinic through his or her provincial amateur football association or by visiting SafeContact.ca.

3. Attend a Safe Contact clinic, which typically spans eight hours taught over one or two days, usually on a weekend.

After the March 21, 2017 deadline, any new coach has a year from the time he or she first steps on the field as a coach to complete Safe Contact training.

Next steps for Safe Contact coaches

Safe Contact trained coaches are encouraged to continue their development through the national coaching certification program. For more information, please visit: http://footballcanada.com/coach-training/.

To view the infograph associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20160121-SafeContactInfograph_ENG_800.jpg