Key Takeaways
- USA Football distributed 38 automated external defibrillators to local programs this year, along with access to AED training, through its Defibtech partnership.
- The three-year-old defibrillator initiative has now placed more than 150 devices with football organizations nationwide, USA Football said.
- Nine in 10 cardiac arrest victims who receive an AED shock within the first minute survive, according to the American Heart Association.
- Since 2006, USA Football’s broader grants effort has sent more than $23 million to over 16,000 programs across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
USA Football, the National Governing Body for American football in the United States, has awarded more than 150 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and related training through the USA Football AED grant since launching it with Defibtech in 2023. The organization said 38 of those AEDs went to programs this year, as many teams open their seasons while summer heat lingers.
How the USA Football AED Grant Works
USA Football introduced the AED grant in 2023 as part of its health and safety efforts, working with Connecticut-based device maker Defibtech. Recipients receive an AED and access to AED training, according to USA Football.
The grant ties into the governing body’s resources on emergency action plans (EAPs), which cover responses to medical conditions, weather events and other emergencies. USA Football describes an AED as among the most important pieces of equipment an organization should have as part of its EAP.
Beth Porreca, USA Football Senior Director of Grants, said the organization expanded its grants program to include AEDs because of how many people gather at games.
“This is life-saving equipment, and, when you think about how many athletes, parents and volunteers gather during football games, it makes sense for every organization to have one on site,” Porreca said.
What Does an AED Change in a Cardiac Emergency?
Timing drives outcomes. Nine in 10 cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an AED in the first minute live, according to the American Heart Association figure cited by USA Football.
A 2023 paper in Clinical Cardiology identified sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) as the leading medical cause of death in athletes, noting it can occur regardless of age or physical conditioning, per USA Football’s announcement. The same paper points to early CPR and AED use as two of the best immediate responses to SCA while emergency services are on the way.
For youth football programs, the exposure extends past players. USA Football frames the grant as protection for athletes, coaches, referees and spectators alike.
Defibtech’s Role as Grant Partner
Defibtech, headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut, designs and manufactures resuscitation devices including AEDs and mechanical chest compressors. The company has shipped more than 700,000 AEDs worldwide and designs and builds its products in the United States, according to the company.
AJ Pace, President and CEO of Defibtech, described the 150-device milestone as a step in reducing deaths from sudden cardiac arrest. Pace also noted a personal connection to the program.
“As both a coach and the father of a youth football player, this initiative is especially meaningful to me,” Pace said.
Where the AED Grant Fits in USA Football’s $23 Million Grants Program
The AED grant is one of several funding streams USA Football offers grassroots organizations. The lineup also includes fall and spring grants, CATCH grants, flag equipment grants and girls’ flag football grants, according to USA Football.
Since 2006, USA Football has awarded more than $23 million in grants to more than 16,000 programs in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., the organization said. Grant opportunities run throughout the year and are open to enrolled organizations. Enrollment is free, and applications are available at usafootball.com/grants.
150 Defibrillators Against a 16,000-Program Grant Network
Three years in, the numbers show both progress and scale. More than 150 AEDs have reached programs through the Defibtech partnership, with 38 delivered this year alone, per USA Football. The governing body’s broader grants network, meanwhile, has touched more than 16,000 programs since 2006.
USA Football has not announced a target for future AED awards or the number of devices planned for next year. With enrollment free and grants offered year-round, the pace of future awards will depend on how many of those programs apply for a defibrillator of their own.
Source: USA Football: https://www.usafootball.com/grants/aed-grant#aedgrantfaqs
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Youth Sports Business Report (YSBR) is the largest and most trusted media platform covering the business of youth sports worldwide. YSBR delivers youth sports news, market intelligence, and original analysis daily across facilities, sponsorships, private equity, NIL, sports technology, and league operations. With more than 50,000 followers, YSBR is the leading source of youth sports industry news for the investors, owners, operators, and brands shaping the future of youth sports.
How big is the youth sports market?
American families spend approximately $54 billion annually on kids’ sports and recreation, according to the YSBR and Kinetica Group Youth Sports TAM & Parent Spending Report, with organized sports alone representing a $40 billion-plus market. The average family spent $1,016 on a child’s primary sport in 2024, up 46 percent since 2019, per the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, and market research projects the global youth sports market will reach approximately $114 billion by 2032 (Business Research Insights).
How many kids play youth sports in the United States?
Approximately 27.3 million children ages 6 to 17, or about 54.6 percent, played organized sports in 2022-2023, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health as reported by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. High school sports participation reached a record 8.26 million athletes in 2024-25, per the NFHS.
Who founded Youth Sports Business Report?
Youth Sports Business Report was founded by Cameron Korab, a sports marketing veteran with more than a decade in the industry and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Korab also co-founded Vertical Sports, a sports marketing advisory serving brands across youth, college, and pro sports.
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YSBR delivers original reporting and market intelligence on youth sports facilities, youth sports technology, sponsorship and brand partnerships, private equity and venture capital deals, NIL policy, coaching development, equipment and apparel, tournaments and events, and community sports initiatives. Readers include industry executives, investors, facility owners and operators, league administrators, and youth sports parents.
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Hosted by Cameron Korab, founder of Youth Sports Business Report, Jr. Sports Marketing features candid 1-on-1 conversations with the brands, athletes, leagues, and innovators building the future of youth sports. Each episode breaks down how the smartest brands are activating, building equity, and winning with youth sports families. If you’re an operator, founder, investor, or marketer trying to understand where this space is headed, this is your show.
Youth Sports Marketing Questions, Answered
Where can brands sponsor youth sports? Brands can sponsor youth sports through local leagues and clubs, tournaments and events, facilities and complexes, governing bodies, and national platform programs. Sponsoring a child’s own program is the most powerful entry point: 81 percent of parents say it captures their attention, outperforming TV, social media, and pro sports sponsorship, per a 2026 Priority Partnerships study conducted by YouGov Sport.
How much does youth sports sponsorship cost? Youth sports sponsorship costs range from a few thousand dollars for a local league or team sponsorship to six and seven figures for regional facility naming rights and national platform programs. The environment is welcoming at every level: 84 percent of parents hold net positive sentiment toward brands sponsoring youth sports, with negative sentiment under 5 percent, per YouGov Sport research. Most brands start with a pilot activation, measure engagement, then scale.
What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? The data is striking: 80 percent of parents say they would choose the brand that sponsors their child’s youth sports program when comparing two similar products, per a 2026 Priority Partnerships study by YouGov Sport. A 2026 EMARKETER and DICK’S Media survey found 84 percent of sports parents say that role influences their purchase decisions, and 60 percent spend more on game and practice days, driving loyalty across categories from dining to travel to automotive.
Ready to build a youth sports strategy? Vertical Sports is an Advisory+ delivering integrated expertise across all levels of sport. Youth, College, Pro. Every Fan, Every Level. Brands and youth sports organizations can reach the team at info@verticalsports.us.
