In 2019, USA Football began piloting the Football Development Model (FDM) before fully adopting the model post-pandemic as a method to help coaches teach athletes based on their age, the skill they are learning and game type.
USA Football building on Football Development Model with latest stages
- Last updated on: September 3, 2025
- By Sport Pilot
- 1 min read
- Blog Published Date:
last updated on: September 3, 2025
In 2019, USA Football began piloting the Football Development Model (FDM) before fully adopting the model post-pandemic as a method to help coaches teach athletes based on their age, the skill they are learning and game type. This year, USA Football will release the remaining three stages of the FDM, providing a clear path for athletes to stay in the sport and continue learning beyond the existing stages.
USA Football is the sport’s governing body, a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and a leading national voice in the football space. Its FDM is the first national application of a long-term athlete development model for American Football.
