Five Steps Schools Must Take to Fight Childhood Obesity



Kids play Eat Like a Pro at all Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers
New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles Youth Camps.



In order to beat childhood obesity, we have to stop beating ourselves.

Schools are the second greatest weapon in the battle against childhood obesity.  Yet some school practices are major contributors to the problem itself.



Here are 5 steps schools should take to help.

1.   Stop Treat Rewards

Some schools actually provide incentive through sweets, treats and extra sodas.  There is a better way and this simply has to stop.  

2.  Become Neutral on Fast Food Restaurants

Fast food restaurants are part of our culture and should not be attacked.  However, schools are sometimes “bought” by fast food corporations.  Sponsorship dollars or free food offers transform health educators into hypocrites.  They need to take the high road here.

3.  Remove all candy, soda and bad snack food vending machines.

We are survivors.  The kids will find new, healthy alternatives to sustain themselves.

4.  Teach Nutrition and the Effects of Different Food Choices

We talk about it, but many schools do not literally teach healthy eating habits.  Kids must be able to distinguish the difference between the carbohydrates in a spaghetti dish and a piece of cake.   They must also have an approximate understanding of how many calories they should consume in a day.

5.  Make Them Run

At least once a week, kids should simply just get up and run one mile.  They will be more relaxed, learn to control their breathing, set new goals and burn significant calories.  

For Football Skills, Life Skills and Fun!

Tom Finks

Pro Sports Experience for Kids

www.ProSportsExperience.com

7 Reasons Why Youth Hockey Players Should Play Football Too



This Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camp coach
teaches tackling, but it could easily be hockey checking.



USA Hockey--the governing body of hockey---recently mandated a rule change that moves the legal age for body checking in games from 12U to 14U.

The debate has been long and emotional for USA Hockey.  Their decision to adjust the rule was related to both safety and player development issues. 

Interestingly, their study was motivated by the observation that once a player reached the pee-wee level and was allowed to check, the player became overly-focused on checking and failed to make the best hockey play in the given situation.  That changed the game for participants, making it less fun for some players.

Like football tackling, hockey checking is as much about protecting yourself as it is stopping the progress of your opponent.  

Consider these teaching points, which are core instruction points within the youth hockey world (for checking) and the youth football world (for tackling).

1.  Always have a good, deep knee bend prior to contact.

2.  Maintain a wide base

3.  Keep your elbows at your side.

4.  Generate your power from your legs and hips, not upper body and arms.

5.  Before contact, be sure to narrow the gap (distance) between the player and opponent.  Do not lunge or leap at your opponent.  Instead, continually drive your feet.

6.  Do not go straight at opponent, rather angle toward where the opponent is heading.

7.  Keep your head up, never duck your head.

In sum, football tackling and hockey checking have many parallels.  Football instruction is an excellent way for young athletes to master the body contact and protection techniques necessary for many team sports, including hockey. 

CONCERNED ABOUT CHECKING?  Hockey players should try a non-contact youth football camp provided by the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants or Philadelphia Eagles next summer.   While these football camps are non-contact, they spend significant time teaching “form” or “fit” blocking and tackling techniques.  The safe, non-contact instruction prepares kids for the tackle football game or any contact sport.  It is a smart way to get into the game.

For Football Skills, Life Skills and Fun!

Tom Finks

Executive Director, Pro Sports Experience for Kids

www.ProSportsExperience.com

Bullying Does Not Improve Your Popularity or Social Status

A study produced by CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 and UC Davis Sociologists Robert Faris and Diane Felmlee found that schoolyard bullies are not just preying on the weak.

Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camp Coaches establish
behavior expectations and communication plans to prevent
bullying during the camp week.

Suprisingly, the study found that kids were not clearly defined as either "bullies" or "victims" but they fluctuated roles from week to week.

It's also believed that family background does not determine aggressive behavior.  Instead, it often depends on the persons social status in the "school hierarchy."

Fortunately, it appears that aggresive behavior does not improve one's status in the social heirarchy.  But aggresive behavior appears to influence aggressive behavior among friends. 

Read more in the following links:

Anderson Cooper 360 Report

Social Networks and Aggression at the Wheatley School

For Football Skills, Life Skills and Fun,

Tom Finks
http://www.prosportsexperience.com/

Pro Sports Experience is the official management company of Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps

Funny Story About NFL GM's Al Davis and Jim Finks

Al Davis

Nobody gave Al Davis a break--because he was a great GM. 

That includes the late Jim Finks.

Back in 1978, defensive tackle Alan Page was put on waivers by the Minnesota Vikings.  Davis wanted to claim Page.  

He called Jim Finks--GM of the Chicago Bears for advice.

Finks knew Page.  Finks was previously the Vikings GM and could provide Davis with some good advice.

Jim Finks


"Page is done," Finks told Davis.  "He has lost it." 

With that advice, Davis declined the chance to pick up Page on waivers.

Moments after the Raiders declined, Finks picked up the phone and claimed Page off waivers.

For Football Skills, Life Skills and Fun,

Tom Finks
http://www.prosportsexperience.com/

 

 

How to Make Your Youth Football Banquet Better

Need some sizzle for your post season youth football banquet?

Get some Football Hero Player Appearance Power.

It's a sure way to make your end-of-year football banquet more exciting and meaningful.  Beyond autographs, a real football hero can deliver motivation and perspective.  The hero can deliver a message you have struggled with all year. 

Yes, they are hard to find and sometimes expensive. 

Here's a Solution.  Check out this sweestakes offered by Pro Sports Experience.

Choose the state where your favorite youth football organization resides and vote for the organization you would like to see win.  No purchase required.

Visit http://www.prosportsexperience.com/ for complete details.

Connecticut

Illinois

Delaware

New York

New Jersey (North)

New Jersey (South)

Pennsylvania

Wisconsin

I hope this helps.

For Football Skills, Life Skills and Fun,

Tom Finks
http://www.prosportsexperience.com/

20 Questions to Measure Your Youth Football Coach

"No written word nor spoken plea

Can teach young minds what they should be

Not all the books on all the shelves

but what the teachers are themselves."  

-Elbert Hubbard

These profound words define what it means to be a great teacher or youth football coach.  Inspired by Hubbard, we want to look deeper and provide a platform that helps parents evaluate their child’s coach. 

Coaching has many facets and even great coaches have weaknesses.  Hopefully, this comprehensive series of questions gives you the tools to fairly evaluate your youth football coach.  

ASK THIS:  Does your coach?...

CHARACTER and PERSONALITY

1. have high integrity?

2. build strong, positive relationships with people?

3. have the character to change a person, program and culture?

4. have a healthy perspective of competition?

5. display discipline, poise and focus?

6. love coaching and who they coach?

PLAYER MANAGEMENT

7. recognize great talent and potential in others?

8. know how to get the best all team members?

9. affirm and encourage those they coach?

10. care about the whole person and all that they do?

11. show strong organization and attention to detail?

PROGRAM BUILDING

12. understand how to build a program, tradition and legacy?

13. give credit and success to others?

14. focus on the big picture?

15. have others gravitate towards and want to play for?

16. look forward to the challenge of competition?

SYSTEMS AND STRATEGY

17. know their methodology and system with no apologies?

18. love to strategize and implement.

19. manage complexity well.

20. adapt and change easily.

Hopefully you answered “yes” to at least 15 questions, with high success in the Character category.

For Football Skills, Life Skills and Fun,

Tom Finks

Pro Sports Experience for Kids

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/

10 Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants



Waiting is the hardest part.



"My kids will never eat fast food."  I actually said that 11 years and 878 fast food restaurants ago.

I have three kids now.  During the early years, they broke me.  "Happy Meals" solved many problems.

Since then, the kids have matured and I have learned fast food can have a healthy edge. 

Here are the "10 Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants"  from Health.com.

1. Panera Bread
2. Jason's Deli
3. Au Bon Pain
4. Noodles and Company
5. Corner Baker
6. Chipotle
7. Atlanta Bread
8. McDonald's
9. Einstein Brothers Bagels
10. Taco Del Mar

See why Health.com made these choices.

For Football Skills, Life Skills and Fun,

Tom Finks
Pro Sports Experience for Kids
http://www.prosportsexperience.com/


Pro Sports Experience is the official management company of Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps.