Joining Secretary of State Rokita at a morning kick-off event in Indianapolis was former NFL and Indianapolis Colts Quarterback, Jack Trudeau. Gathered in the Covenant Christian High School Library, Trudeau and Secretary of State Rokita helped engage some Covenant Christian students in a computer based game version of “Financial Football.” Later in the day, Secretary of State Rokita and Visa’s financial education director, Jason Alderman, introduced students at Paul Harding High School in Fort Wayne to “Financial Football.”

“It takes the combined efforts of parents, teachers and the public sector to give young adults a strong background in personal financial management,” said former NFL and Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Jack Trudeau. ”I’m glad for the opportunity to teach these Indiana students how imperative it will be for them to learn how to make good, smart and informed money decisions as they plan for college and beyond.”

Demonstrating the connection teenagers have with their cell phones and the growing popularity of gaming on mobile devices, a new study of parents released by Visa USA shows that 38% of teenagers play a cell phone game more than once a week. The survey also showed that 10% of teenagers are “super cell gamers,” playing games on their cell phone five times a day or more.

Before being developed for cell phones, “Financial Football” already scored points with parents, teachers and teenagers as a computer-based video game. “Financial Football” puts students’ fiscal knowledge to the test by combining the structure and rules of the NFL with financial education questions of varying difficulty. To score points, a player needs to answer various money-management questions correctly. Wrong answers and penalties can cost a player yardage.

The free computer-based version of this game has already been downloaded and played over 100,000 times. The game and corresponding financial education curriculum are the centerpiece of a major educational initiative, just completing its second season, between Visa, the NFL and PLAYERS INC, to get young people engaged and excited about their financial futures.

In addition to being a game, “Financial Football” is also a one week, five part financial literacy program designed for high school instruction. After viewing the “Financial Football” game and curriculum, the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office, with support from Visa, has agreed to a statewide distribution of the CD version of “Financial Football” that will soon be going to every Indiana high school.

“There is an awareness building in Indiana and throughout the country that basic concepts of financial literacy belong in high school classrooms," said Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita. “As a society, we’re quick to spend resources instead of managing them. The best way to change that practice is to start talking about finances early, before life teaches financial lessons the hard way.”

Last December, Visa teamed-up with West Virginia State Treasurer John D. Perdue to announce the first ever statewide roll out of “Financial Football” that will be bringing the computer-based game to every high school and library in West Virginia.

Former Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Jack Trudeau and Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita

“Visa is proud of its over decade long commitment to financial literacy and to be assisting Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita and his office in their efforts to promote and strengthen financial education efforts throughout his state,” said Jason Alderman, director, Visa USA. “We also take great pride in our NFL sponsorship, which is enabling us to work with so many talented current and former players like Jack Trudeau to give students around the country the tools, resources and encouragement they need to become more financially literate.”

“Financial Football” is part of Practical Money Skills for Life (www.PracticalMoneySkills.com), a comprehensive financial literacy program - available in English, Spanish and Chinese - that teaches young adults personal finance skills.

This free, educational resource provides teachers with lesson plans (kindergarten-college) mapped to their state education requirements. For students, there are interactive games and calculators designed to teach responsibility and important concepts such as earning, saving and budgeting money.

To play Financial Football, click here.