NFL Players Association Announces Partnership with RisingSeniors.com

NFLPA tailors Training Camp for Life, a character and skills development program for the Inaugural Georgia Junior Bowl Game

The top junior high school football players in Georgia will get treated like the NFL’s best when they attend the first RisingSeniors.com event in Atlanta, January 4 to8, 2011. The unique five-day summit has an unprecedented format which concentrates on the overall education and development of these young athletes rather than just the game. The culminating contest known as The Georgia Junior Bowl will feature the best juniors in the state at Bobby Dodd Stadium on the campus of Georgia Tech. The game is but a fraction of the programming compared to the rest of the action packed week of events slated for the young student athletes. In compliance with the NCAA, the programs will be run just like the NFL’s Rookie Symposium to focus on key issues that deal with character and life skills development. The program was designed to assist the young men with the challenges which lie ahead as they will attend workshops on NCAA compliance, ACT and SAT test prep, drug-free sports, social media training, alternate careers in sports and choices and consequences. There will also be a special session on giving back to the community presented by Danny Wurfel, former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Legend.

“It is imperative we educate these student-athletes on the life skills required to be prepared for the college transition and life after football,” said Willis Whalen, NFLPA Manager of Player Services and Development and Training Camp for Life creator. “The Georgia Junior Bowl provides Training Camp for Life with the unique platform to reach a key audience. We hope to provide these juniors with the tools that they need to be successful both on and off the field.”

“After attending the Rookie Symposium as an NFL draftee, I see what an impact this program could have on high school student athletes at this critical time in their lives,” said Izell Reese, current Vice President of the NFLPA Atlanta Chapter and former NFL Player (Cowboys, Broncos, Bills). “That is why I partnered with Joe Burns (Buffalo Bills) to create this much needed educational program. We are astounded by the support and participation we have already received from the community and other organizations.”

The NFL Players Association, joins Rawlings who has agreed to become the official football helmet and apparel sponsor of the football event. Other partners include Curing Kids Cancer (Official Community Service partner), Desire Street Ministries, The Atlanta Sports Council and The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau.

About the NFLPA:
The NFL Players Association is the exclusive collective bargaining agent for all players employed by clubs of the National Football League. Founded in 1956, the NFLPA works to ensure that the rights and interests of NFL players are protected. In addition, the NFLPA strives to be a valuable resource and to maximize player opportunities on and off the field through membership programs and community activities. For further information, visit www.nflplayers.com.

About RisingSeniors.com
RisingSeniors.com is an educational program created to better assist high school junior student-athletes with their athletic, academic and social development. With many athletes ill-equipped for the college recruiting process, RisingSeniors.com’s mission is to prepare the student-athlete and their parents for their senior year, college and beyond. Students and their parents are selected to participate in a series of life skills seminars and an all star game at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium on January 8th, 2011. For more information please visit www.risingseniors.com, RisingSeniors Facebook page, phone at 678-528-4141 or via email at info@risingseniors.com.

Cheerleading Safety Leaders Merge to Strengthen Safety Message and Expand Reach

/PRNewswire/ -- The leading organizations for cheerleading safety education and training have merged. The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) and the National Council for Spirit Safety Education (NCSSE) are pleased to announce the merger effective Jan. 12.

There are more than 70,000 cheerleading coaches across the United States working with youth, junior high, high school, all star and college cheerleaders. The shared mission of these two nonprofits is to provide educational resources and training opportunities to these coaches, as well as school administrators, coaches and the cheerleaders themselves.

AACCA, founded in 1988, has had successful safety partnerships with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Federation of State High School Associations and is widely recognized as a safety education and rule making body. AACCA has developed safety rules for all levels of cheerleading, developed the AACCA Safety Certification Course and has recently made the course available online.

"We've made great strides in addressing safety issues, and this merger puts us in a better position to continue addressing those concerns," says Jim Lord, Executive Director of AACCA. "It's very exciting to think of the effect we can have on safety by combining our expertise and resources. Together, we will be able to continue development of safety initiatives and educational programs that will directly benefit cheerleaders and their parents, coaches and administrators at every level, from youth to college, school to all star."

The NCSSE has successfully developed a comprehensive coaches' educational series incorporating teaching principles, strategies and techniques. Internationally, the NCSSE has established a strong foothold in the United Kingdom and has developed partnerships with established organizations in nine other countries.

Debbie Bracewell, Executive Director of NCSSE, is enthusiastic about the potential impact of the merger, both domestically and abroad. "This move strengthens and enhances our mission of providing comprehensive safety training and certification programs for the continued development of cheer and dance team coaches. We can better serve the cheerleading community here in the United States as well as globally, where cheerleading is growing steadily."

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