will offer Ontario youth between the ages of 7‐14 a safe and fun introduction to football. Growing the Gridiron is organized, operated and facilitated by Ontario University Athletics (OUA) with the support of its current and future volunteers to ensure all Ontario youth have the opportunity to participate in all levels and disciplines (touch,flag and tackle) of football.
Participants will be introduced to football, and receive skill development sessions, derived from Football Canada’s LTAD model, which will help build positive self‐esteem, confidence, and a new love for the game of football. Each participant will engage in and progress through the
Growing the Gridiron program, advancing through the levels and the skills associated with each level. Upon completion of each level the participants will receive a different coloured OUA football jersey symbolizing they have passed that level, which they can wear with pride!
Growing the Gridiron focuses on the core skills of throwing, catching, punting, and field goal kicking which each follow the format of a teaching progression (a teach, show, do format is used), a fun drill and an evaluation drill. For the skills of running with a football, tackling and blocking the same format remains but these sections are not evaluated.
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
