We, the undersigned, consider ourselves among the most ardent supporters of Practice Like Pros.
Permit us to begin with "thank you." With your assistance, PLP has had a fabulous year, collaborating with coaches and governing bodies of high school athletics in three states -- New Jersey, Connecticut and Michigan -- to enact the tightest practice contact limits in the history of the game at any level of the game....less contact than allowed by the NFL, less than the Ivy League, less than any football jurisdiction ever. National media reaction has been spectacular. Health and safety benefits are immeasurable for the 70,000 boys and girls who play in these three states.
In the upcoming 2020 off-season, PLP is targeting another dozen states. But as always, we need your help. PLP does not charge state coaches' associations and governing bodies for its services. PLP pays no salaries and no appearances fees to anyone, not even to NFL and college coaches who make clinic presentations on its behalf. But there are expenses -- travel/living, video editing, presentation materials, Website, newsletter, part-time personnel. These are covered by sponsors and donors like you.
This is PLP's annual "Giving Tuesday" appeal. Each of us is making a donation. We ask you to do the same....and to solicit friends, family members, employer matching programs. Now here's the good news: PLP is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3), EN #46-2994162, so your gift is 100% tax deductible. Acknowledgement will be mailed to you on PLP letterhead. Please send checks to:
Practice Like Pros P.O. Box 1066 Weston, CT 06883
Thanks again for your ongoing support. We're winning this battle to improve the game for one million American high school football players.
Gratefully,
Chris Ash Atavus Joe Azzaro Fred Biletnikoff Rocky Bleier Dr. Josh Bloom Hank Brown Lynn Buoniconti Cocoziello Foundation Tom Condon Diana Coyne Frank & Kelli Cutinella Nicole Klarides-Ditria Nick Eddy George Goeddeke John Girardi Ed & Diane Gulyas Steve Hatchell Nancy Ruth Kail Karen Kinzle/ Doug Zegel Daryle Lamonica Joey Larocque Rachel Latto John D. Lium Nick Lowery Oliver Luck Jim Lynch Archie Manning Ed Marinaro Lou Marinelli Leonard Marshall Joe Martin Barry Merrill Warren Moon Jenny Tate Morgan Anthony Munoz Dr. Anil Nanda Coley O'Brien Tom O'Leary Tom Olivieri Katie Parseghian Walt Patulski Jim Plunkett Tim Ryan Peter Schivarelli Matthew Sign Leigh Steinberg Buddy Teevens Joe Theismann Dick Vermeil Bobby Vernon Phil Villapiano Jason Winik Sam Wyche
Here's what they said about Practice Like Pros in 2019:
"I met Terry O'Neil three years ago when he first presented the Practice Like Pros philosophy to our Executive Committee. Like all states, New York has had a major decrease in the number of athletes participating in football. Our Executive Committee unanimously bought into the content of Terry's presentation and philosophy. Since then we have had Terry present at our annual Coaches Clinic for the past two years. Terry is an outstanding presenter and every session was well attended by coaches and the feedback was extremely positive. If you are given the chance, I would have Terry present to your Executive Committee or at your annual clinic." — Lyle Dixon, Executive Director, New York State High School Football Coaches Association (NYSHSFCA)
"We invited Terry to make a presentation at our post-season Board meeting last December. He explained Practice Like Pros' definitions of thud and full contact, showing video examples of both and testimony from several successful coaches. After a very short discussion among our Board -- about 65 of whom were attending -- we called a vote on the question of adopting Practice Like Pros' definitions and contact restrictions. I’ve been a part of the Board for about 45 years. This was the first time a resolution has passed by unanimous vote. We took the proposal to our state governing body, the MHSAA. The new MHSAA Executive Director liked it. He surveyed Michigan schools. They liked it. We have, this year, adopted the Practice Like Pros model. While we won’t get a lot of feedback from members until our post-season meeting, the parents and coaches I’ve talked to are very pleased with the new restrictions. In short, Terry O’Neil and Practice Like Pros provided us with exactly what we needed to improve high school football in Michigan." — Larry Merx, Executive Director, Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA)
"We have taken a huge step in the positively right direction with Practice Like Pros and all that it encompasses. Thanks for everything you have done in making high school football a much safer sport for thousands of young boys and girls in the United States."
— Larry White, Executive Director, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA)
"The NJFCA Executive Committee had the opportunity to meet Terry O'Neil a few years ago when he first presented the Practice Like Pros approach to a room full of somewhat skeptical NJ coaches. After an extremely compelling presentation, coupled with first-hand testimony from prominent NFL and collegiate coaches, we immediately knew this was a progressive philosophy that would create a paradigm shift in the way we teach our great sport without compromising its integrity. Terry was instrumental in passing our state's ground-breaking contact limits. The support, information and data that Terry provided throughout the process proved to be invaluable. The NJFCA greatly values his partnership and will continue to work with Terry and Practice Like Pros moving forward in an effort to preserve and grow NJ High School Football."
— John Jacob, Commissioner, New Jersey Football Coaches Association (NJFCA)
"Practice Like Pros has initiated a program that is really catching on. You should be very pleased and proud."
— Dick Vermeil, former Head Coach, Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl Champion
"This is for us to have a safer game. You get a group of high school coaches together … [and] it’s really just hard for them to object to it. They want what’s best for their kids. They want what’s best for the game. It’s going to help the game.”
— Archie Manning, Chairman, National Football Foundation
