Independence coach represents Arizona at weekend NFL Youth Football Summit

Fify-one top high school coaches, representing each state have been selected by the NFL to participate in the fifth annual NFL Youth Football Summit this weekend. Kelley Moore, head football coach for Independence High School was selected to represent Arizona.
Moore has been the head coach at Independence 14 years and has been coaching high school football 23 years. In the span of his career, Moore has been named "Conference Coach of the Year" five times and twice has been named the NFL's Arizona Cardinals' "Coach of the Week."
Each high school football coach in attendance will receive a free Proscout Video software package for their program from USA Football, through a grant from the NFL Youth Football Fund.
The video editing software allows coaches to index their game film, which would be helpful to coach Moore as the 2005 football season gets underway.
"We have more than 1,600 players on our NFL rosters," NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "They have one thing in common: they received guidance from high school coaches. The Youth Football Summit is one way that we can offer our resources on an annual basis to help maintain the quality of coaching throughout the country."
Throughout the summit, many other topics will be discussed, including: using technology; injury prevention and sports first-aid practices; role-playing demonstrations on handling coach-player relationship issues; recognizing talent; and tips on inspiring youth and high school football players to achieve their greatest potential.
The National Football Foundation will also participate in discussions on the importance of leadership and the benefits of football.
The high school football coaches registered for an opportunity to attend the summit by entering a nomination and essay contest conducted by the NFL through its high school football Web site, NFLHS.com. Coaches submitted online essays in which they wrote about their coaching careers, commitment to youth and coaching philosophies. A blue-ribbon panel, consisting of local state representatives, reviewed the essays and 51 coaches - one from each state and Washington, D.C. - were chosen to serve as their state's delegate at the summit.
There were more than 100 individuals who are involved in youth and high school football will participate in the events, including football and academic coaches from the NFL-NFF Play It Smart program; high school football coaches from Mexico, Japan, Germany, Scotland and Canada; and youth football coaches and administrators from the nation's largest youth sports organizations.
Moore leaves from the summit today and will return to his team recharged and motivated to begin the second week of practice for the Independence football team.

Jennifer Hernandez