Jim Finks Opened the Door for 5000 Kids

Jim Finks

This week, Bristol and Lynden Presss, a small publisher focused on the history of Chicago sports and pop culture, highlighted the anniversary of Jim Finks joining the Chicago Bears as General Manager. 

Jim Finks:  Just What the Doctor Ordered

We would like to add something.

Well after his death, the good relationships he created in the NFL opened doors for me and my company Pro Sports Experience. 

While we have to prove our worth every day, we are proud to represent and manage youth football camps on behalf of the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.  And we acknowledge that his relationships gave us the opportunity to pitch our program and be in this business.

Last year, we operated 80 non-contact camps in six states.  Nearly 5,000 kids attended our camps.  Each participant learned football skills, life skills and had a blast playing the world's greatest team sport.  We made an important, positive impact on many young lives--he would be most proud of that accomplishment.

Jim Finks' philosophy is part of everything we do.   During the good times, we are going to "keep an even keel." During the tough times, we will just "keep sawing wood."

It's great to remember the week he took on the challenge of rebuilding the Chicago Bears. 

As he signed most of his letters or notes...

"Peace,"

Tom Finks
Executive Director
Pro Sports Experience, LLC

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/

Predicting the Future for Youth Football Leagues

Injury Concerns Will Grow Youth Football Participation Levels

Yes, the spotlight on concussions and injuries associated with youth football will increase overall participation in youth football.  

Here’s why and how:

Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps

Let’s consider a kid named Hank.  He’s an elite young athlete and 9 years old.  He plays hockey, baseball and basketball and would love to play tackle football.   

Hank’s parents reject tackle as an option.  They are just not comfortable with it.

As an elite athlete and huge Chicago Bears fans, Hank still needs a football fix.  So, Hank joins a non-contact flag football league in his local neighborhood.

Remember, Hank is an elite athlete that was prohibited from playing tackle football.  When he joins this non-contact flag football league, he immediately gives the league some credibility.  It’s like Herschel Walker Herschel Walker going to the USFL or Bobby Hull going to the WHA.  With Hank on board, many of his hockey, baseball and basketball teammates will consider flag football as a cool option, also as their “second” fall sport.  

When Hank’s teammates join, there is suddenly a critical mass of good youth athletes playing in this league.  A suddenly, the coaching quality has improved as athletically competent dad’s support their sons.

Now, just because Hank’s parents rejected football, the flag league got a lot better.  The league demonstrates good football skills and fun. 

Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps

Here’s the kicker:   The huge number of undecided/recreational athletes begin to hear the buzz.  A non-contact flag football league is cool because Hank and his athletic friends play.  It’s not for cowards, these are good tough kids.  And unlike tackle football, flag football has no issues hanging out there like extreme travel, expense or injury issues.  It’s everything soccer is, but a sport America truly loves to play and watch.  

SUMMARY:   Truly dedicated football players aspire to play in high school and college, so they will always choose tackle to make that dream happen.   However, the concerns related to tackle football will increase the number of high quality athletes (and coaching dads) to the non-contact leagues.  This will draw more recreational or “followers” to non-contact leagues because there are not nearly the concerns or impediments associated with choosing tackle football.  

The net result is significant overall growth in football participation as tackle numbers are sustained and non-contact football leagues experience a tremendous increase.  

Of course, managing Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps, Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps, New York Giants Youth Football Camps and Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camps, we hope this is true.   Just watch.  We believe it will happen.

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.



More quality young athletes choosing flag football will draw
more undecided players to non-contact programs.



Jobs in the NFL: What We Tell Youth Football Campers



New York Giants Youth Football Camps



To get a job in the NFL, you have to be smart, competitive, proactive, qualified, lucky, connected and tougher than a nine mile detour.   

And I am talking about getting jobs in an NFL office, not on the playing field.

At Pro Sports Experience Youth Football Camps, we talk to the kids about “jobs in the NFL” and frequently have team employees visit the camps. 

Youth football campers want to know what “jobs in the NFL” are like. 
Here’s a brief summary of what we tell them.  

Team President

Most Fun:  Providing coach, highly competitive individuals with tools to get job done. 

Most Challenging:  Education required (legal, business or financial), time and sacrifices to do job.

General Manager

Most Fun:  Dream maker for young, ambitious men; authority and final say for team structure.

Most Challenging:  Agents; the media; second guessers; indirect responsibility for player behavior.

Coach:

Most Fun:  Outdoors—every day;  Dress code;  Feeds competitive fire; Inspiring men to be better people through football.

Most Challenging:  Long hours; second guessed by public; cutting good people; failed execution.

Media Relations Director:

Most Fun:  Being in atmosphere loaded with compelling, positive human interest stories.

Most Challenging:  On call 24-7; Coercing young, stressed and moody players to speak to media.

Community Relations Director:

Most Fun:  With team resource, significantly helping less fortunate people or organizations.

Most Challenging:  Inability to satisfy all the requests; coercing moody millionaires help cause.

Corporate Sales Director

Most Fun:   Many cool, valuable and high visibility platforms that other companies want to purchase.

Most Challenging:  Pressure to deliver big dollars in order to help cover significant team expenses.

Game Operations Director

Most Fun:   Entertaining live audience; motivating fans and players; huge creative platform.

Most Challenging:  Entertaining fans when team is getting walloped.

Announcer:

Most Fun:  Great work hours and freedom; access to all team resource;

Most Challenging:  Facing players you criticized on the air;

Trainer

Most Fun:  Camaraderie with team; great reward assisting players to recovery and saving career.

Most Challenging:  Extreme hours and need be available and assist every injured player.

Scout

Most Fun:  Freedom for time and travel; Uncovering a hidden star; excitement of discovering star.

Most Challenging:  Risk of predicting the future of immature or poorly raised young man.

Chairman George McCaskey at
Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps.

THE KEY TO SUCCESS:  We tell youth football campers that there are many industries that provide the same reward and satisfaction as working in the NFL.  Before anything, you must be qualified and therefore you must be educated.  When kids hit the books hard, options increase and so do the chances of a rewarding future.   

May everyone find fruitful, rewarding employment and the resources to care for yourself and family.

Tom Finks

Pro Sports Experience, LLC

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

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/

http://www.bearscamps.com/

http://www.packerscamps.com/

http://www.nygiantscamps.com/

http://www.eaglescamps.com/