The Carolina Panthers have awarded the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) with a $55,000 grant to support the NFL and USA Football’s Heads Up Football initiative.  Heads Up Football is a comprehensive player safety program that addresses proper equipment fitting, heat and hydration, concussion recognition and awareness and Heads Up Tackling fundamentals. The grant award was announced during the NCHSAA’s 2014 state high school football championship press conference in Chapel Hill. 

       “The NCHSAA is a national leader in promoting safety for its schools and student-athletes,” said Panthers director of community relations Riley Fields. “The Panthers share similar values and are committed to enhancing player health and safety at the youth and high school levels.  We are pleased to partner with the NCHSAA to provide new opportunities for high schools.”

       “The NCHSAA is pleased to partner with the Carolina Panthers to offer the Heads Up Football education and training opportunity to our member schools,” said NCHSAA commissioner Davis Whitfield. “Any program that promotes the health and safety of our student-athletes is one that we will support."  

       Since its debut in 2011, Heads Up Football has been adopted by over 5,600 youth athletic associations nationwide, which is 60% of the known youth football universe. During the past two seasons, over 1000 high schools nationally have adopted the program including the Wake County Public School System and Pitt County Schools.