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Football Coaches Get Lessons On Concussions In Lakewood

DENVER (CBS4) - Football coaches across the Denver metro area are working to make the game safer for young players. It's part of the "Heads Up" football program and it's the first-of-its-kind player safety clinic.

"In our association we deal with kids form second grade all the way up to eighth grade," Brian Goodwin with the South Jeffco Sports Association said.

Goodwin said Saturday's training session for coaches is about investing in the future of football.

"Just be a lot more fun in that way and not caught up in the fear of everything that's going on right now," he said.

Goodwin and dozens of other metro coaches met at Lakewood High School to learn to prevent injuries on the field and keep the sport as safe as possible -- and still fun.

"A lot of times we have to actually teach kids how to put their helmet on their head," USA Football master trainer Wayne Voorhees said.

Voorhees said the class reinforces proper tackling mechanics, reducing helmet contact, and education on concussion recognition and response.

"We are trying ot change the whole way of doing things," he said.

This is the second year that Voorhees has led the class, and the first time with high school coaches, hoping that teaching youth coaches will make for better, safer players as they get older.

"And then they are going to take it back to their leagues and going to educate their coaches, their parents and their kids," he said.

"Just trying to teach them how to use their body the right way," Goodwin said.

It's a lesson that coaches like Goodwin says is an important one as getting new younger players involved now keeps the sport alive and kicking.

LINK: Heads Up

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