For the ninth consecutive season, the Kansas City Chiefs are proud to host a “Celebration of Youth Football.” This year’s recognition takes place as part of USA Football’s “Play Football” festivities. This season’s event started with the team’s initial preseason contest on August 16th (vs. Arizona Cardinals). It will continue this Thursday, August 28th (vs. St. Louis Rams) during preseason finale at Arrowhead Stadium. Between these two games the Chiefs will host approximately 4,000 youth football participants from throughout the metro area.

“Youth football is the life blood of the NFL,” Chiefs President Carl Peterson said. “We need to continue to work hard to promote and expand youth football in America.”

These youth football players are among 100,000 youngsters who will attend preseason games nationwide as part of the “Play Football” campaign through team-donated tickets. Locally, the Chiefs will welcome these youth football players to tour the Arrowhead turf during pregame warm-ups and also invite some to participate in the National Anthem from the sidelines alongside their favorite NFL players. The team will also have a youth football member serve as honorary coin-toss captain at midfield prior to kickoff. Other League-wide features include in-stadium promotion through “USA Football” field banners, public address announcements and video board messages.

The Chiefs “Celebration of Youth Football” activities won’t be limited to pregame. Additionally, dozens of youth football players will have the opportunity to suit up and play at halftime of the Chiefs game against the Rams. The third-grade Blue Valley North Mustangs will meet the fourth-grade Blue Valley Northwest Huskies at the west end of the field while the seventh-grade Blue Valley Northwest Huskies will take on the seventh-grade Olathe East Hawks at the east end of the field.

The Chiefs efforts to promote and expand youth football remain at the forefront of the organization’s focus to improve youth sports and academics in Kansas City. The team has now contributed $1.75 million for metro-area field refurbishments and construction in the past ten years. Included in that figure is the new youth-specific football field located at the team’s practice facility. In addition to youth-field enhancements, the Chiefs are involved with the Play it Smart, ATLAS & ATHENA, and Junior Player Development programs, just to name a few. As a result of their unparalleled commitment to the development of youth football in the Kansas City area, the Chiefs received the Pop Warner-AFC Team of the Year Award in 2005.

In addition to promoting football’s values, the “Play Football” campaign also celebrates the sport’s rising participation figures. According to the independent sports marketing firm The Bonham Group, 3.2 million youngsters ages 6-14 played tackle football in 2007, up from 3.0 million in 2006.

The “Play Football” campaign will feature “I Played” public service announcements, featuring six everyday professionals in their respective work environments united by the leadership and strong character traits they gained by playing football – a sport that employs teamwork to attain success. The “I Played” television message invites viewers to usafootball.com to share memories of playing football and how the game has enriched them as people.

-CHIEFS COMMUNITY CARING, JOIN OUR TEAM-