NEW FIRST DOWN GRASSROOTS PROGRAM TO INTRODUCE KIDS TO SPORT DURING FOOTBALL WEEKEND IN CANADA
JULY 19, 2022 – Two of Canada’s leading football stakeholders have aligned to focus on the sport’s growth, learning, and safety opportunities. Football Canada and the Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) are proud to announce a new partnership designed to foster football development and growth in Canada over the next three years.
“The game of football has been life-changing for most CFLPA members, including myself, because it develops not only athletic skill but also character, fosters teamwork, and forges long-lasting relationships. This is an exciting opportunity to partner with Football Canada as we work together over the coming years to grow the game and get more youth in Canada learning and playing football,” said Solomon Elimimian, CFLPA President.
The first step in the strategy is a project focused on youth, aged 4 to 8 years old. The Football Canada First Down program gets kids their first interaction with the game of football over eight sessions. The CFLPA and Football Canada will conduct one-day First Down sessions during Football Weekend in Canada from September 16 through 18th. Dates, times, and locations will be announced throughout August. The one-day event is free of charge.
First Down requires no previous football experience, and it was developed as an excellent non-contact introduction to the basics of the sport.
“It’s our goal to get a record number of kids exposed to the sport for the first time during Football Weekend in Canada,” said Football Canada president Jim Mullin. “I can’t think of a better way for our sport to be introduced to kids and their families than with a CFLPA Ambassador participating in the instruction of the First Down program.”
In addition to this first initiative, the CFLPA and Football Canada have committed to partnering on programming for coaching certification for current CFLPA members, sport-wide safety initiatives, and promoting the sport through Football Canada events to grow the game. The Canadian football community can expect more announcements from this partnership in the coming months.
“Throughout our discussions with Football Canada over the last two years, we have found that we share much in common. Both organizations share a passion for the game and are focused on growing football while centering on the athletes’ well-being. We know we can do a lot more by working together.” Brian Ramsay, Executive Director, CFLPA.
ABOUT FOOTBALL CANADA: Established in 1880 and reconstituted in 1884, Football Canada is the national governing body of amateur football in Canada and a proud member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). Working closely with the provincial football associations, we develop programs and resources for players, coaches, and officials in the three disciplines of Tackle, Flag, and Touch Football. Football Canada’s vision statement is “from playground to stadium,” where players can participate in the game of football throughout a lifetime recreationally, competitively, and internationally.
ABOUT THE CFLPA
The Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) is the union for professional football players in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Since 1965, the Association has worked to establish fair and reasonable working conditions while protecting the rights of all CFL players. In addition to negotiating and enforcing the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the CFLPA provides a variety of member services, builds corporate and community partnerships, and works diligently for the betterment of its membership. Find us online at cflpa.com.
