Can Exercise Make Kids Smarter?

Here's another reason why kids need active gym class during school, maybe the only reason!

As adults, we realize that regular exercise leads to more productive work and creative thinking.

Moreover, for kids, recent studies suggest that real exercise does have a very positive, profound effect on our brain structure and memory while strengthening the connection between brain regions.

Check out the New York Times Tara Parker Pope on Health and see why exercise is an essential ingredient in childhood development.

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

Myth and Risk of Live-Contact Summer Football Camps

We have heard it many times. 

Non-Contact blocking at
New York Giants Youth Football Camps

“My son is an experienced tackle football player.  To improve, he needs a full-contact, summer camp experience with live blocking and live tackling.”

We respectfully disagree.

So do hundreds of former NFL players, coaches, parents and young football players associated with Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants or Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps.

During the months of June and July, non-contact football instruction is far and away the preferred format.  This applies to newcomers, flag players and even the most experienced tackle players.

Yes, even the most experienced tackle players are far better off training in a non-contact format during the months of June and July.

Here’s why:

June and July are months immediately preceding your tackle football training camp. 

In anticipation of August tryout camps, you should have two goals.

Goal #1:  Be sharp with respect to technique.  Technique is essential to good football and can be perfected in a non-contact format while staying healthy.

Goal #2: Be in top physical condition. 
Your strength, speed and endurance should be at a high point.

Non-contacting running back drills
at Packers Youth Football Camps

What will get you to these goals? 

First, when engaged in summer drills or training, you want to demonstrate perfect technique-- every single time.  This will establish proper muscle memory and develop a consistent technique.

Second, you want to develop speed, strength and endurance without the risk of injury. 

Now June and July are hot weather months. 

Hot weather accelerates fatigue.  Full equipment accelerates fatigue.  The physical battle of live blocking and tackling accelerates fatigue.  And if you are out of shape to begin with, it becomes an even bigger problem.

Consider the unintended consequences. 

First, you cheat and execute poor technique because you are tired, therefore establishing improper muscle memory.

Second, you become more concerned with out-muscling your opponent than executing proper technique.  While you may win that battle, in the long run you have not helped yourself as a football player.  Instead, you have established improper muscle memory.

Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps

Third, with hot temperatures and heavy equipment, you tire and lose concentration.  This significantly increases the chance of injury.   You could twist an ankle, tweak a hamstring or worse.  Injured players don’t make the team.   

So we ask, if you intend to improve your technique and fitness levels in order to enter your camp at full speed, is a live-contact camp worth the risk? 

We say the non-contact format is a much better choice.

Non-contact camps focus exclusively on developing skills and increasing fitness in a safe environment.

In a non-contact format, you recover from drills more effectively and therefore may demonstrate perfect technique during every repetition.   With perfect repetitions, the skills become engrained; you develop muscle memory and advance as an athlete.  Your posture, footwork, head and hand position is perfect every time.  And you are less inclined to cheat because you are focused on your own technique, not the size of your opponent. 

Additionally, you build your speed, strength and endurance with virtually no risk.   At a non-contact camp, you make football moves at top speed.  Again, you are building muscle memory and fitness levels.  The key difference is there is virtually no chance of getting run over, clipped or chopped unexpectedly, therefore suffering an injury that sets you back days if not months.

I hope this helps your decision making for summer football camps.

We will follow up with some testimonials from former NFL players and  coach supporting our position in the next week.


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.

Chicago Bears Youth Camps:  www.BearsCamps.com
Philadelpia Eagles Youth Camps:  www.EaglesCamps.com

New York Giants Youth Camps:  www.NYGiantsCamps.com

Green Bay Packers Youth Camps:  www.PackersCamps.com

Concussion Confusion? See Fantastic Video for Kids and Parents

Confused by concussions? 

View this video and clear your head.

This wonderful, simple six minute summary is produced by Dr. Mike Evans.  Dr. Mike Evans is founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michael's.

Though grounded in hockey, this presentation works for everyone.

View:  Concussions 101, a Primer for Kids and Parents.

The Rise of Flag Football

The Rise of Kids Flag Football

Flag Football -- once considered the humble little brother of the Tackle Football game -- is sacking that second string reputation.

Sure, tackle football will always be number one as kids dream to play before the big hometown crowd.

But recent spikes in flag football participation, as well as significant support from grass roots organizations indicate that flag football is ready for prime time and will soon take a bigger share of the youth sports marketplace.

Contributing to Flag Football’s growth is the fact that more dedicated athletes are rejecting “the one and done” experience and choosing to stick with Flag Football for multiple seasons.  This helps Flag Leagues build continuity and quality, develop rivalries and sustain growth. 

“We see lots of kids now fully dedicated to flag football,” says Tom Finks, Director of Pro Sports Experience, a youth football camp management company for NFL teams.  “These kids simply prefer the flag game and can match skills with any kid in any sport.”

Right behind those dedicated young athletes are their fathers, many with significant football playing and coaching experience. 

“Frequently, a great young flag player has a Dad that played and can teach the game,” says Finks.  “When families like this support a Flag League, it’s a big step forward for the overall league quality.”

Pro Sports Experience manages youth football programs on behalf of NFL teams such as the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.  All combined, they ran 80 camps--all non-contact--in six states.   These teams are invested in helping all levels of football grow and see non-contact football as an essential part of their fan development mission.

For example, the Chicago Bears sponsor non-contact youth football camps for kids aged 6 to 14 years old.   Led by professional coaches and Chicago Bears Alumni Heroes, the Bears host more than 25 youth camps with programs for all playing levels, including private or small group instruction options. 

“We divide kids by age and experience level so the curriculum meets each child’s specific needs,” say Finks. “Newcomers, flag players and tackle players get great benefits from our program, and that feeds into their fall league success.”

Finks believes flag football has very strong selling points. 

“Except for the obvious, flag football features all the key skills and excitement of the tackle game” says Finks.  “It allows kids to learn the game without concern.   Being a flag football star can be the ultimate goal, or flag can be a key building block as a young player moves into the tackle game.” 

Flag football teams generally practice once-a-week with games on weekends.   This is another advantage that gives kids a better chance to enjoy additional activities during the fall or spring seasons. 

Local Flag Leagues sponsored by NFL Flag Football are also available in the fall and spring seasons.  Teams receive NFL reversible team jerseys, NFL Flag Belts, as well as rules, coaching guides and parent guides to organize the league.   This league is available for kids ages 5 to 17 years old.

If your child is crazy about football, be sure to investigate the growing options provided by local flag leagues, youth football camps or start your own league through NFL Flag. 

More about Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/bears/

More about Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camps

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/packers/

More about New York Giants Youth Football Camps

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/giants/

More about Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/eagles/

For more about NFL Flag Football Leagues

http://www.nflflag.com/

Top Ten Football Movies of All Time

Need to impress your family with a excellent football movie night?  

Check out the cool-story.com Top 10 All-Time Great Football Movies.

Some have great lessons for youngsters. 

Others are have adult content and are totally inappropriate for kids.

Do additional homework before viewing.  We hope this helps. 

The Tortoise and the Hare

Motivation: Is the best 8 year old always destined to be the best 12 year old player?

Read "The Tortoise and the Hare" a perfect example about player #34, why things change and reasons to keep trying.

Most Inspiring Exercise Science of 2011

The most inspiring exercise science involved the effects that fitness activity can have on the brain. 

Hopefully, this is considered when education boards decide the fate of gym class during the school year.

Read Gretchen Reynolds recap "The Year in Fitness" from the New York Times Health section.