The National Athletic Trainers’ Association released a new video earlier this month to help football athletes avoid head and neck injuries.

The 14-minute video, "Heads Up — Reducing the Risk of Head Injuries in Football," updates players on NCAA and National Federation of State High School Associations rules about head-first contact. It also emphasizes the correct techniques for initiating contact.

Copies of "Heads Up" are available for $10 and may be downloaded from the NATA Web site or purchased in DVD format. For more information or to purchase a copy of the video, go to http://www.nata
.org/consumer/headsup.htm.

The University of Illinois, Champaign, football team went the distance for a nearby children’s home recently as part of the team’s summer community-service project.

Illini football student-athletes spent 12 hours one day earlier this month collecting supplies and donations for the Cunningham Children’s Home. With the help of local radio stations publicizing the event, the team collected enough goods to cover the length of the practice field from goal line to goal line. Contributions of cash and donated goods totaled more than $13,000.

Two video game consoles, a CD player and a DVD player were among donations to the home. The outreach also netted an abundance of toiletries such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant and shampoo as well as school supplies, books, games and toys. In addition, the Champaign Park District donated 25 footballs and basketballs. A bookstore contributed about 300 T-shirts and the football program provided another 250.

The drive was the first of three events the football team planned. Student-athletes also sponsored a movie night and autograph session and hosted a football clinic and fun fest for the kids.

"In the past, we’ve done team-building things," Maddox said. "But this year, the seniors decided that instead of doing something for the team, we could do something for the team and the community at the same time.

"When we hosted the movie night, it was rewarding to see the looks on the kids’ faces when they saw all the football players. They were running around with posters and getting autographs. The fact that they were hanging out with the football team ... they were just so excited. It was really rewarding."

College sports fans now have a little help in passing on their passion to their children and grandchildren thanks to a series of award-winning sports-themed children’s DVDs.

Team Baby Entertainment (TBE), producer of the DVDs, has developed a new way for parents, grandparents, alumni and others to introduce children to their favorite sports teams. Each DVD in the series is customized for a specific school and/or team and features officially licensed footage of all team sports, mascot, marching band, traditions, landmarks and attractions. Officially licensed music from schools’ marching bands and team theme songs also are included.

To complement the DVDs, TBE also offers other material aimed at the miniature fan such as baby slippers, puzzles, books, blocks and onesies. For more information, go to www.teambabyentertainment.com.