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A22 SPORTS
Wednesday 19 February 2020
USA Football's player development model adds TackleBar tool

By BARRY WILNER mentally sound and useful
AP Pro Football Writer in teaching proper tech-
USA Football is introducing nique. The most recent
another tool as part of its adjustment tweaked the
road map for how the sport comfort, rounding out cor-
is played, coached and ners on the harness itself so
taught on the youth level: even if a player falls back-
TackleBar football. ward, corners are rounded.
As part of USA Football's The device weighs just un-
"Football Development der a half-pound, the bars
Model" launched last year, are made of foam and at-
TackleBar is included within tached by Velcro pads.
the model's "limited con- Testing began in the Twin
tact" category, serving as Cities in youth camps be-
a teaching tool and step- fore the 2016 pilot program.
ping stone between flag Approximately 10,000
football and the full tack- youngsters in 27 states have
le game. USA Football's been using it both in youth
model offers multiple entry leagues and high school
points and options to play workouts. Even some col-
the sport across three cate- leges have TackleBar on
gories: non-contact, limited hand.
contact and contact. This photo provided by USA Football shows football players wearing a harness with two bars that And now, as part of USA
Players using the TackleBar is a new tool as part of TackleBar football. Football's FDM, TackleBar
tool wear a harness with Associated Press founder Brigid Ling hopes
two bars in the back, one the device will become the
on each side. When a de- Model," says USA Football tion for fifth and sixth grad- U.S. Olympic & Paralympic default use when players
fender attempts a tackle, Executive Director and ers. Committee's vision for what are ready to move on from
he or she will be able to CEO Scott Hallenbeck. "It "It makes for an awesome sports need to be for our flag football "but maybe
employ the basics of tack- starts with certified coach- transition; our kids tackle kids," he says. "TackleBar want to wait a few years to
ling — head up and out of es teaching young play- in seventh grade," Hinrichs spans an important range play tackle." "I would say it
the way while wrapping ers in a way that's fun and says. "This brought back of that vision. This is a tool would revolutionize teach-
up — with limited contact. matches their age and some excitement and a that improves foundational ing the game because it is
Players learn to refine their ability. TackleBar is an ef- level of organization in the football skills, brings more at a medium level between
technique without tackling fective tool to learn form fifth and sixth grades we kids into healthy and ac- tackle and flag," Ling adds.
a player to the ground. In- tackling and fundamentals had not seen. I said this is tive lifestyles, and is part of "There's so much strategy
stead, one of the bars is with limited contact. It's a what we are using at the an exciting learning bridge and complexity involved
pulled from the opponent's smart way to build skills and varsity level — we are us- — a player pathway that in a coach's playbook and
harness, ending the play. experience the sport." ing the TackleBar as well in football has been with- this skill includes all of that ...
TackleBar has been on the One high school coach practices. We want the kids out for too long. All of this, "There is a place for any kid
market since 2017 and the who has incorporated to be able to see that, to coupled with 21st-century on a football field, espe-
harness costs $55; there are TackleBar into his programs think, 'If it is good enough coach certification, helps cially in those growth years.
shoulder pads also avail- is Russ Hinrichs of Alexan- for varsity, it's good enough young players graduate to Anything we can do to
able. Pilot programs begin- dria, Minnesota. Hinrichs for us.' tackle football — and not keep kids healthy and ac-
ning in 2016 were a success, recognized several years "I hate to turn kids off be- just play it, but excel in it." tive and included is impor-
and now USA Football, the ago the need for an alter- fore they grow and feel The TackleBar equipment tant, and football holds all
governing body for the native way to get young- they can play tackle." dates back to 2013 and it those values. We're keep-
sport, is adopting TackleBar sters into the program while That's exactly what the FDM has gone through about ing the door open to the
for the FDM. addressing concerns par- is all about, Hallenbeck ex- 20 iterations of design from game. With TackleBar, kids
"This is one aspect, al- ents had in terms of con- plains. its initial concept. The idea who would not otherwise
though an exciting one, of tact football. He found "The Football Develop- has been to create some- stay in (it) have come back
our Football Development TackleBar a worthwhile op- ment Model aligns with the thing comfortable, funda- in."q

LeBron: MLB's Manfred needs to listen

to players' Astros ire

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeB- Judge and Cody Bellinger, how disgusted, mad, hurt,
ron James is stepping to the among others. broken, etc etc about this.
plate for ballplayers furious "Listen I know I don't play Literally the ball is in your
over baseball Commission- baseball but I am in Sports court(or should I say field)
er Rob Manfred's handling and I know if someone and you need to fix this for
of the Houston Astros' sign- cheated me out of winning the sake of Sports!"
stealing scam. the title and I found out James' tweets includ-
The four-time NBA MVP about it I would be ... irate!" ed the hashtag #Just-
and star with the Los An- James tweeted. "I mean MyThoughtsComingFromA-
geles Lakers unleashed in like uncontrollable about SportsJunkieRegardless-
two tweets Tuesday, echo- what I would/could do! Lis- MyOwnSportIPlay"
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles during the first ing calls for harsher punish- ten here baseball commis- Trout, a three-time MVP,
half of the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, ments made by baseball sioner listen to your..... play- ripped Houston and ques-
in Chicago. stars Mike Trout, Aaron ers speaking today about tioned MLB's discipline. q