American Youth Football Thrives as 140 Top Teams Qualify to Compete in the 2010 Under Armour American Youth Football National Championships

Athletes from Across the Nation Showcase Their Skills in the World's Largest Football Competition

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On December 4th 2010, American Youth Football (AYF) and Under Armour kicked off the world's largest football competition as they welcomed more than 15,000 football players, cheerleaders, and their families from across the U.S. to the 2010 Under Armour American Youth Football National Championships.

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Since its inceptions fourteen years ago AYF has become the nation's largest youth football program with more than 650,000 athletes aged 5-16 playing on 18,000 teams in all 50 states. The organization strives to use football as a means to 'give back' to the community and fulfill its mission to provide all kids with a place to play. In order to qualify for the National Championship event, coaches and league administrators participated in months of education, training and fundraising while players had to demonstrate excellence both on the field and in the classroom.

AYF's steady growth can be attributed to its hard line approach on enforcing rules and taking the necessary precautionary measures to create a safe environment for its athletes. "Parents and administrators across the country have responded exceptionally well to our rules, the demand for participation right now is as strong as I have ever seen in my 50 years in football," according to AYF President Joe Galat, a former NFL and NCAA coach.

"Qualifying for the Championships far exceeds simply winning games, it requires months of dedication from an entire community," said Galat, "Incredibly, we could have invited 300 teams to participate this week, which exemplifies the strong commitment to youth football from across the country."  

The top 140 youth teams will compete in 20 divisions allowing players of all ages the chance at a national title. In addition to high-intensity football, players will have a chance to participate in Under Armour Combines with top trainers, events at local area theme parks, appearances by NFL players and celebrities and national media coverage.

Coverage of the Under Armour American Youth Football National Championships will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net airing January 1st, 2011 at 5:00PM EST. Follow the event at www.ayfchampionships.com, and on twitter at @AYF.

About American Youth Football ®

(AYF) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides support services, scholarships, grants, giving back programs and tournaments to over 650,000 youth members in 50 states and several countries worldwide. AYF is committed to Giving Back and since its inception in 1996, has donated over $15 million dollars in grants and athletic product to communities that support youth football. AYF was the first national organization to offer all-inclusive football divisions, enabling every child a place to play. For more information visit the website at www.americanyouthfootball.com.

About Under Armour, Inc.

Under Armour® (NYSE: UA) is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The brand's moisture-wicking synthetic fabrications are engineered in many different designs and styles for wear in nearly every climate. The Company's products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland, with European headquarters in Amsterdam's Olympic Stadium, and additional offices in Denver, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Guangzhou, China. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.underarmour.com.

SOURCE American Youth Football

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