January 15, 2009

Dear Coaches:

On behalf of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), I want to take this opportunity to be sure you are familiar with an AFCA initiative - National Athletic Testing System (NATS).

NATS brings much needed standardized athletic testing and core course academic assistance to your student athletes. NATS also provides up-to-minute information pertaining to NCAA eligibility and recruiting to players, parents, coaches and guidance counselors. It is a service your players should not miss out on.

With a very productive 2009 AFCA Convention in Nashville concluded, I wanted to write you regarding the many new and exciting programs taking effect in 2009 for NATS, an AFCA program. At this year’s AFCA Convention, we presented NATS and the TeamMate-SC to 150+ BCS Football Operations personnel. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

The NATS TeamMate–SC and the new and improved NATS website were presented to our AFCA constituents. The TeamMate-SC allows college and HS coaches, players and school counselors’ access to an online Core Course Calculator for all student athletes. This free innovative tool will allow college coaches to make better recruiting choices and guide players, counselors and HS coaches through the NCAA Clearing House and the core courses needed for eligibility.

The NATS Online Player Database (OPD) is a critical tool in our player evaluation process. NATS Test results data are detailed, accurate and valid. NATS Test results will be reviewed by our coaches immediately following the test. It is important to note over 580 colleges and universities have been utilizing NATS as a great resource for evaluating football student-athletes.

Additionally, you will be receiving recruiting cards for your players soon, and they will be asking for the following information:

Have you attended an NATS combine? __Yes __ No

What was your NATS test score ____?

For more information, test locations, and to sign up for an NATS combine, visit www.nats.us

We are proud that as we enter our fourth full year of testing that already 16 states and counting have activated the NATS program. During the 2009 campaign, we plan on conducting 23 combines while testing over 5000 student-athletes……we are delighted to count Florida among them. Please continue to express the NATS difference with your coaches so they truly understand the importance of this much needed program. Let’s generate some excitement in the great state of Florida.

Remind your players to take advantage of NATS – a program that will bring them unparalleled exposure and keep them on track towards their goal of playing football at the college level!

Sincerely

Coach Grant Teaff
Executive Director