USA Football announced members of its Football Development Model Council to guide the formation of the first national application of a long-term athlete development model for the sport.

Aligned with the U.S. Olympic Committee’s American Development Model, the Football Development Model (FDM) centers on physical literacy and developmentally appropriate skill instruction. The FDM serves as a framework for how football is presented, practiced and coached from youth through adulthood, spanning varying game types and options.

“The FDM is an athlete’s roadmap – at any age – to enjoy the fun of football by participating in sport activities that are developmentally appropriate physically, mentally and socially,” said Dr. Brian Hainline, chairman of the Football Development Model Council and the Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA. “Part of the model’s forward thinking is that you learn to become an athlete before you learn to become a player. When sports programs adopt the FDM, athletes will perform better, play longer and gain a lifelong path to athleticism, health and wellness through football.”

“Our FDM Council is a tremendously diverse and knowledgeable group of experts,” said USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck. “Each member will help deliver a first for our football family, employing a holistic framework to reimagine how football is played, coached and experienced.”

More about USA Football’s Football Development Model resides here.

Football Development Model Council

Medical/Child Development Specialists

  • Dr. Brian Hainline (Chairman), NCAA Chief Medical Officer
  • Dr. Gerard Gioia, Division Chief of Neuropsychology, Children’s National Health System
  • Dr. Michael McCrea, Professor of Neurosurgery & Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Dr. Johna Register-Mihalik, Assistant Professor Exercise & Sport Science, University of North Carolina

Long-Term Athlete Development and American Development Model Specialists

  • Dr. Stephen Norris, Adjunct Professor of Applied Physiology, Mount Royal University and University of Calgary
  • Dr. Paul Roetert, Former Chief Executive Officer, SHAPE America
  • Chris Snyder, Director of Coaching Education, United States Olympic Committee

Football Subject Matter Advisors

  • Todd Berry, Executive Director, American Football Coaches Association
  • Anquan Boldin, Former NFL Player
  • Elijah Brooks, Running Backs Coach, University of Maryland
  • Callie Brownson, Assistant Football Coach, Dartmouth College
  • Jon Butler, Executive Director, Pop Warner Little Scholars
  • Brad Garrett, Assistant Executive Director, Oregon School Activities Association
  • Scott Heitland, Head Football Coach, Dallas Center-Grimes (Iowa) High School
  • Kirby Hocutt, Director of Athletics, Texas Tech University
  • Janan Miller, League President, Hill Country Pop Warner (Austin, Texas)
  • Dr. Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director, National Federation of State High School Associations
  • Richard Raphael, President, Xtreme Youth Football (Miami, FL)
  • Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, Commissioner, Mid-American Conference
  • Buddy Teevens, Head Football Coach, Dartmouth College
  • Troy Vincent, Former NFL Player and NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations