Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio made a special appearance on Thursday at EverBank Field for the Duval County Public Schools high school principal and athletic director meeting. Del Rio announced the Jack Del Rio Foundation was pledging $80,000 for support of the Keeping Young Athletes in the Game initative in partnership with Wolfson Children's Hospital and the Jacksonville Sports Medicine program.
"As a football coach, I see the need every day for athletic trainers," Del Rio said. "I want to make sure we are supporting our youth when they are involved in sports. We have great expectations for this program moving forward and I want to challenge the people in this room to get behind this program and add their support."
With the financial support of Coach Del Rio and others, this pilot program will place trained athletic trainers in Duval County public schools to mentor sports safety programs for student athletes. Keeping Young Athletes in the *Game*is designed to provide optimum sports safety for youth and to encourage youth to pursue sports activities, maintain a high level of physical fitness and experience the personal development through sports that builds character, self discipline and leadership.
Licensed athletic trainers are allied health care professionals responsible for the prevention, management, and care of injuries at all levels of physical activity. They serve as the liaison between the athlete and physician as well as the athlete and coach.
Wolfson Children's Hospital and Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program will be responsible for oversight and management of this pilot program.
Del Rio and his wife, Linda, established the Jack Del Rio Foundation in 2008 to help improve the lives of children in Northeast Florida by assisting programs that aid in the development, education and enrichment of our youth.
