THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (July 11, 2013) – Earlier this summer, Maritime football defensive coordinator Vincent DiGeatano joined many Tri-state area youth coaches at USA Football's Heads Up Safety Clinic – a football safety conference held at the New York Giants' Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford, N.J.

The purpose of the event was to teach coaches about concussion protocols and provide proper tackling instructions, with the overall goal of improving the safety of young players and the future of the game. The conference was a necessary one amid heightened concerns about head injuries that are sweeping the sport from the NFL to Pop Warner.

DiGeatano was on hand to help run clinics that included lectures covering concussion awareness, tackling technique and proper equipment fittings. There were also hands-on demonstrations the coaches took part in. Instructors addressed the concern in football circles that rule changes and safety protocols will legislate the toughness out of the game, but the main stress of the day was that the safer the game will be, the better the game will be.

"The player safety clinics provide a great model to raise the standard of play with an emphasis on player safety," said DiGeatano. "It is an honor to be a part of this revolutionary approach to changing the culture of the game. Working with the youth level coaches is so rewarding as we invest time in the future of football."

The instructors, including DiGeatano, taught coaches in attendance safe techniques in hopes that those coaches return to their communities, teams, leagues and parents and "spread the gospel," all in an on-going effort by USA Football to make the game safer to play from the youth level to the NFL.

"Player safety has become the hot topic in football this past year and Vinny is on the cutting edge of this movement," commented ninth-year Maritime head coach Clayton Kendrick-Holmes. "As a subject matter expert, Vinny's knowledge and techniques are always a part of the yearly Maritime team preparation. Now his contributions through USA Football are making a wide impact to help create a better, safer game on all levels."

This article was written with portions of an article posted on NorthJersey.com (The Record) by staff writer Jeff Roberts. For that complete article, follow this link.