Youth Leadership: Where Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers See Eye-to-Eye

Can the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers agree on anything?  Maybe not on the field.

Chicago Bears Youth Football Camp Leadership Award Winners
acknowledged at Soldier Field

But off the field, both teams connect on a special mission.    

Both the Bears and Packers go to great lengths identify, train and salute young leaders discovered within their summer youth football camps.

Each team gives just two Leadership Awards out per youth camp location.  With less than three percent of all campers winning the award, this is a very prestigious honor.


With 27 camp locations, the Chicago Bears identified 54 leaders from over 1600 participants.
With 10 camp locations, the Green Bay Packers identified 20 leaders from over 700 participants.
Both teams apply the following criteria when choosing a Leadership Award Winners.

1. Leaders play the game with passion and go full speed for every drill.   

2. Leaders initiate.  They see what needs to be done and get it done without having to be asked.

3. Leaders are hungry for knowledge and listen to the coaches.  No, they are not asking questions every 30 seconds.   Instead, they absorb the message and act on it.

4. Leaders take learn from and take ownership in their mistakes. 

5. Leaders don’t finger point, blame or make fun of others.  Instead, they are protective of others, show belief in others and encourage them to keep trying. 

In many ways, these Leadership Award Winners are the antidote to bullies.  

Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camp Leadership Award Winners
acknowledged at Lambeau Field

When a child comes home as a Leadership Award Winner, we are certain that nothing makes a parent happier. 
Beyond football skills, leadership is an awesome life skill to possess.  The world needs leaders and a youth football camp is a great platform for developing those skills.  

And despite the “competitive football animosity,” the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are definitely on the same page for this subject.  

For Football Skills, Life Skills and Fun,

Tom Finks
Executive Director
Pro Sports Experience, LLC

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/

Cross Trained Athletes are Best Athletes

Are you a great football player? 

Or are you a great athlete that plays football?

Athletic Skills at Chicago Bears
Youth Football Camps

Consider the following sports or activities
*Basketball--for leaping ability.
*Baseball--for hand-eye coordination.
*Soccer--for footwork.
*Hockey--for competing in traffic.
*Track--for speed and endurance.
*Yoga--for agility, strength and balance.
*Dance or ballet--for footwork and balance.

After considering the above, watch how the Falcons' Tony Golzalez and the Giants' Dominic Hixon perform multiple, great athletic moves that are found in the list above. 

VIDEO: NEW YORK GIANTS HIXON CIRCUS CATCH
VIDEO: FALCONS TONY GONZALEZ TOE DANCE

Like NFL legends Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson, Hixon and Gonzalez are great, all-around athletes that play NFL Football. 

Before your child commits to one sport, consider the long terms gains of being an "all-around" athletic skills.

For Football Skills, Life Skills and Fun,

Tom Finks
Executive Director
Pro Sports Experience, LLC

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/

Consider NFL Flag for Football Skills and Thrills!

Your child loves football but “other sport” commitments, age or concerns about tackle contact keep your child out of the game.



Develop non-contact football skills at
Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps.



Don’t give up hope!  Be sure to give NFL Flag Football a try.   It's the non-contact version of football that is experiencing tremendous growth and providing big benefits.

The game is available for kids ages 6 to 14 years old.   

The quality of athleticism and team play is outstanding.

Coaching levels are often on a par with any youth football camp or tackle league.

The local and national championship opportunities match those of Pop Warner.

And the game is lightning fast!

Check out the following links and get into NFL Flag.

FOR VERY YOUNG KIDS:  CHECK OUT NFL FLAG

NFL FLAG CHAMPIONSHIP FOR KIDS AGES 9-11

NFL FLAG NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FEATURING BOYS AND GIRLS

CHOOSE A GREAT NON-CONTACT YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMPS HOSTED BY AN NFL TEAM

Hopefully, even more than "get back to football," this helps you find a way to "get into football," --the world's greatest team sport!

Tom Finks
Pro Sports Experience, LLC

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/

 


New York Giants Youth Football Camps have over 25 non-contact football camp locations throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area.  All programs are non-contact and excellent feeders for kids that want to learn to skills for both flag and tackle team football.

 

Video: Amazing Science of Passing Accuracy and Mechanics

Sports Science asks the question “Is an NFL Quarterback the World’s Most Precise Athlete?”

More specifically, is an NFL quarterback more accurate than a World Class Olympic Archer?

This summer, Green Bay Packers Youth Football Campers
discussed the science of throwing a football.

Sports Science put this question to the test with the Saints’ Drew Brees in the spotlight.

They gave Drew the world's most high-tech football with sensors that track velocity, launch angle and spin rate.

In an amazing display of consistency and football skill, Drew Brees hit the archery target’s bulls-eye ten of ten times.  

Chicago Bears Youth Football Camp Director Scott Baum calls this 8 minute Sports Science episode "fantastic football curriculum with some surprising facts about passing accuracy."  Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camp Director Mike Gross calls the episode "simply amazing!"

If you have aspirations to be a flag or tackle football quarterback, definitely check this Sports Science episode out posted on the USA Football website.

USA Football Presents "On Sports Science: Passing Accuracy."

Sincerely,

Tom Finks

Pro Sports Experience, LLC

Official Management Company for Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps.

Is Your Child a True Leader Among Youth Football Players?

More than the Head Coach, it's the youth football players themselves that have the most influence over the team's culture. 

Chicago Bears Youth Football Campers take the coaches
message and get on the same page.

The best "policemen" for players are other players.  While a good coach never disconnects from a team problem, he becomes much more effective when he has strong leadership within the ranks. 

If he does not have team leaders, his message will be rejected--no matter how valid.  The coach will work harder and shout louder in order to have his points made.  Without leadership, the coach may be defined as a "hot head" or "blow hard" as his message never takes hold.

We appreciate and need leadership at all of our youth football camps. 

Do you wonder if you are a true team leader?    Look in the mirror and ask yourself these questions.

1.   Do You Listen to the Coaches Instructions?

Simple enough, right?  After the coach describes a football drill, do you know exactly what to do? Does the coach need to re-explain it?  Do you help make sure others pay attention while the coach is talking?  Or would you rather be funny and cool than ready to play? 

Green Bay Packers Youth Camp Hero Johnnie Gray would absorb the coaches directions and also help teammates with additional details they did not understand.  Johnnie Gray was a leader. 

2.   Do You Go Full Speed--All the Time?

Going full speed at New York Giants
Youth Football Camps last summer.

The only way to practice is full speed-- as if in real game conditions.   

Chicago Bears Youth Football Camp Hero Robin Earl said Walter Payton ran every drill at 100% speed and through the finish line--every time!  As the NFL's greatest player, his example forced teammates to practice with the same level of perfection.

3.   Do You Act with Humility and Help Others?

True team leaders don’t take all the privileges and benefits.  Instead, they humble themselves and show a willingness to do difficult but necessary tasks.  For example, we love campers that help coaches clear the field of cones and footballs.   We never ask them--but when they do, it just stands out!

New York Giants Youth Football Camp Hero Bill Ard said the players he respected most were the ones that treated the trainers, equipment managers and support staff with courtesy and respect. Truly great leaders act with humility and help others whenever possible.   

4.  Do You Ignite the Group with Positive Reinforcement?

It’s easy to talk about what is wrong with your team.  Good leaders are able to identify positive progress within the team and build excitement in a challenging practice.

“This train is rolling!” shouted Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camp Hero Garry Cobb at a recent youth camp.  “This groups is improving with every turn!  These guys are working hard and getting better.  I like this group of Eagles Youth Football Campers.”
At this moment, Cobb saw slight improvement with every youth camper and turned it into a fantastic motivation for the football skill sessions.  It carried over to the entire day’s attitude. 

Coaches, let your team know you admire leadership more than anything else.  Tell them you are looking for the traits mentioned above.  Watch the spirit of your team change.

For football skills, life skills and fun,

Tom Finks
Pro Sports Experience, LLC
Official Management Company for Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps.
http://www.bearscamps.com/
http://www.packerscamps.com/
http://www.nygiantscamps.com/
http://www.eaglescamps.com/

Three Essential Habits to Help the Overweight Child

NFL Sponsored Youth Football Camps are
a great place to have fun and burn calories

It's no fun to play if you struggle to move, breathe and keep up with other kids.  Quite often, this is due to a young person being overweight.  

We consider our youth football camps a great place to pass along life and fitness skills that combat childhood obesity.

Our youth football camp coaches teach three essential life habits that help kids manage and decrease excess body fat.  Apply these habits and help your child attain a better level of fitness.

 
1.  Simplify the Game:  It's "Calories In" vs. "Calories Burned."

Always look at food labels and recognize the total calories you consume each day.  Discuss good choices and bad choices made during the day.   Learn to distinguish high-calorie items from low calorie items.  At this stage, it's about creating awareness.   Without good information, how can your child distinguish a "good choice" from a "poor choice?"   Create awareness first, then you can make changes.

2.  Get Rid of the Soda: Choose Water First
This can be the easiest and most productive battle ground for you.  Water has zero calories and replenishes your body as required.  Consider the net calorie loss when you choose water and eliminate soda.  Certainly juices and milk are important, but make water the high priority.  Do you really need to have soda pop in the house?  Get rid of the soda and see an immediate change. 

3.  Play 60 minutes each day. 
It does not matter what activity you choose, as long as you get moving!  Make it fun.  If you can walk to school and back, that's at least 20 minutes of great exercise right off the top.  The goal is to do something physically active for 60 minutes every day.  Get your body moving and make it fun!

Speaking of fun, check out the NFL's Play 60 program for great ideas.

If your child follows this plan, you will get positive results with little drama.

For football skills, life skills and fun,

Tom Finks
Executive Director
Pro Sports Experience, LLC

Official Management Company for Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps.

http://www.bearscamps.com/
http://www.nygiantscamps.com/
http://www.packerscamps.com/
http://www.eaglescamps.com/

“I Won’t Cheat!” --A Little League Life Skill Campaign that Scores.

Bears Youth Camp running back

Our youth football camp coaches constantly state, “Don’t cheat yourself!”  We say it before camp, during camp and at the final whistle.

What do they mean?

*Come mentally and physically prepared to get the most out of the camp day.

*Get enough sleep before the day.

*Eat a proper breakfast.

*Think about what you want to accomplish.
*Leave your problems behind and enjoy the moment.

*Run out every play and give a 100% effort.

*Do things the right way.

Talk about a simple sports lesson that translates to true life skills!  Consider NCAA football team violations, baseball players using steroids, golfer Tiger Woods, skater Tonya Harding and sprinter Ben Johnson.    Then consider any coworkers, friends and family members that cheat their way through life.   They take shortcuts, sandbag and use smoke and mirrors.  But everyone knows the difference.

It makes me think everyone should be required to play team sports while growing up.  It’s the best platform for learning how to compete with integrity.  Note:  I said “team sports” as I believe the environment is much more conducive to competitive integrity than most individual sports (golf excluded).  

While many more cheat without getting caught, I suspect that every perpetrator big and small has significant regrets and would do things much differently if given the chance.   We all make mistakes and fall to temptations of easy success and quick adoration.   Nobody is completely innocent. 

Pro Sports Experience tips its cap to Little League Baseball and their “I Won’t Cheat” jersey patch campaign.  It’s a sharp message that is a more valuable takeaway than football skills or baseball skills. 

More on the Subject

Little League’s Simple Pledge to a Better Future

15 Greatest Sports Cheats of All Time

Tom Finks

Pro Sports Experience, LLC

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

Not “If” but “When” Your Moment Arrives!

During practice, we frequently preach “go hard…at full speed, just like a game!”

That reminder is easy to accept when you are a starter at your position.  You know you will see 20 to 30 minutes of game action.  You know you can be a difference maker.  There is an easy connection between practicing hard and your impact on the game results.

But what if you sit as a second, third or fourth stringer?  What then?  Even if you practice hard, the “plan” is for you to play very little or maybe not at all.

If you don’t plan on playing, you simply won’t practice effectively.  And if your moment comes, you won’t be ready.

The approach must not be “if” you get your chance.  It must be about “when” that chance arrives.  Consider these facts:

1) At the beginning of the 2010-11 season, Kevin Kolb was expected to be the Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback.   He was injured.  Michael Vick was not only “scheduled” to replace Kolb, he was prepared to replace him.  Vick took the opportunity and won the starting quarterback job.  Vick also has earned consideration of MVP honors.

2) Going into the NFC Championship Game vs. the Packers, Jay Cutler was scheduled to start as quarterback for the Chicago Bears.  In the second quarter, a knee injury sidelined Cutler.  Second string quarterback Todd Collins was also pulled from the game.  So third string quarterback Caleb Hanie entered and led the Bears to a comeback, nearly defeating the Green Bay Packers.  By being prepared, Hanie earned the enormous respect from teammates, coaches and fans.  More importantly, he earned himself future opportunity because he produced when in the spotlight and under pressure.

3) During the 2010-11 season, the Green Bay Packers team suffered 15 roster changes that gave second and third stringers a chance to play.  Despite the turnover in personnel, the Packers made the playoffs.  And on Sunday, February 6, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the Super Bowl.

Each of those 15 back-ups prepared….not “if” but “when” their moment would arrive.

That’s the key difference.  Great opportunities are seized when you believe the opportunity will arrive.  Athletes must have faith they will get a chance.  When they bring that faith to practice, they will practice more effectively and gain much more.

And when (not “if”) they take advantage of that opportunity, that is the greatest reward sports can offer - for both the athlete and the coach that supported that athlete.

Top 12 Signs Your School Principal May Be TOO PSYCHED for Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers Game

12. Dumped a bucket of Gatorade on 4th grade spelling bee champ.

11. Fifth graders will be dissecting footballs, not frogs.

10. Challenges troubled students by asking "What would Olin Kreutz do?"

9. Now wearing a mouthguard.

8. Throwing food now ok, as long as throws are "nice tight spirals."

7. Parents must define sick children as "Doubtful, Questionable or Probable."

6. Ask college advisors to include Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps and Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camps as options for "higher education."

5. Rather than Pledge of Allegiance, starts every day with a coin toss.

4. Teachers required to get ankles taped, every morning.

3. Students now enter school through new "playoff ticket detectors" security check.

2. New after school program to be called "Donald Driver's Education

1. "Your locker" is now pronounced "Ur lacher."

Pro Sports Experience is the official management company for Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camps. 

Five Important Questions to Ask Before Sending Your Child to Camp

"I am worried about my child attending your day camp.  What precautions do you take to assure my child will be cared for and healthy?"

In the day camp (or sports camp) world, there is no more important question. 

To answer it, ask yourself the following five questions to determine if a camp is prepared to care for your child properly.

1.  Does the camp ask for sufficient contact and health information? 

The first step any good camp will take is creating a camper profile for your child by acquiring comprehensive health and contact information. 

Importantly, does the camp request:

• Multiple phone contact numbers?
• Your child’s age, weight and playing experience?
• Third party emergency contact information?  
• Doctor's name and phone number?
• Unique medical issues of your child? 
• Medicine he/she may need at camp? 
• Who is authorized to pick your child up from camp? 

With this information, the camper profile is created, providing an excellent starting point for safe camper management.  Remember to ask yourself: “Does the camp request enough information to keep my child safe?”

2.  Is the staff qualified?
Before developing athletic skill, camp staff must be able to manage the children.  They must be positive motivators. They must be strict disciplinarians without casting a negative cloud over the entire camp. The staff must manage bullies, shy kids, experienced athletes and newcomers to the game. Above all, they must have the background and experience to succeed.

Important considerations of a camp’s staff include:

• Must staff members pass a criminal background check to work at the camp?
• Do staff members have a "professional educators" background?
• What indicates they can manage large groups of children?
• Are they trained in first aid and CPR?
• Do they maintain a strong staff-to-campers ratio?
• Are health experts or certified athletic trainers on site?

3.  Are the camp’s location, facility amenities and equipment safe?
With respect to inclement weather and athletic activities, can the camp function safely?
Consider the following:

• Is there access to indoor classrooms or a gymnasium?
• Are there ample water or hydration sources?
• Is there a complete supply of first aid equipment on site?
• Are landline phones available?

4.  How does the camp manage its campers?
Ask the camp organization how they will manage your child.  This includes both on-the-field athletic issues and off-the-field activities.

• How are the campers grouped with respect to age and experience level?
• How are pick-up and drop-off exchanges handled?
• What are the lunch time management policies?
• What are practices with respect to sun screen and hydration?
• Is camper profile data (from section #1) accessible?
• Are drills designed with safety in mind?
• Do coaches emphasize respect and sportsmanship as the highest priority?
• Does the camp offer “Extended Supervision” services?

5.  Does the camp effectively communicate with me?
Finally, a quality camp management company proactively communicates to the customer.
Consider these elements of customer communication services.

• Do confirmation notices arrive with complete information?
• Do you receive reminders or updates with respect to the camp or your registration status?
• During the camp week, do you have an easy way to communicate issues or negative experiences?
• Does the camp offer an orientation meeting or introduction to parents?
• Can you communicate problems with camp operations confidentially?
• Do the coaches make themselves available for discussion before and after camp?

With these questions in mind, you can more easily determine if a camp is prepared to manage your child’s day camp experience. If you have additional questions, please email me at tom@prosportsexperience.com.

Regards,
Tom Finks, Executive Director, Pro Sports Experience

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