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.

 

Moms and Football Coaches Work Together for Kids

If Mom is there everyday for you, consider yourself lucky.

If Mom is truly supporting your social and school life, you are even luckier.

If Mom is hog-wild about everything you do---if she is your loudest cheerleader, head equipment manager and chief motivator, you are truly blessed.

Sportsmanship at Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps

While running youth football camps, our greatest reward comes when a Mom is completely ecstatic about their son’s experience. We feel the parent’s joy in emails about football skills, life skills, nutrition or sportsmanship learned.  As youth football camp coaches, perhaps we are able to convey something important that neither the mother nor the father could establish.  To paraphrase, “only in your own home are you not heard.”

For the professional educators, coaches and heroes of our staff, these are our greatest moments.  It’s when you give something to Moms that give so much to football.

“I am thrilled with the coaches and staff. They are truly amazing guys.  I am hoping that after this week, Josh will feel more confident to go back to his old team and play.” 
Angel--Mom of a Chicago Bears Youth Football Camper

“{My son} is coming home sharing skills he's learning and has really absorbed stories being told by camp heroes like Jim Thornton.  I see him more aware and motivated about taking care of hydrating his body and eating nutritious foods that fuel him.  Last night, I watched eat his entire serving of broccoli.  Being a mom with a nutrition background, that's a wonderful sight to see.  I only wish my urgings could motivate him as well.”   Karin--Mom of a Chicago Bears Youth Football Camper

“My son has really internalized some of the sportsmanship and life lessons being taught, as well as football skills, and for that I am most happy.  Today one of the teams he played against in a camp scrimmage lost a touchdown because of excessive celebration-- YES!!!  That is a lesson he needed to see and hear from someone besides his parents.  And Packers Hero John Anderson shared a nice story about determination and never giving up.”  Jennifer--Mom of a Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camper

“On yesterday morning while having breakfast, Jeremiah shared with me "the coaches are really good to us and I have learned some good things so far, like how to scoop up the ball and wrap it up and the drill sessions are getting me in shape."  As a mother, hearing this out of the mouth of her youngest, it is comforting to me know that he is enjoying the camp and at the same time the football staff is helping him to improve basic skills as he continues to learn the techniques of football.”   Donna G--Mom of New York Giants Youth Football Camper

“I have three boys at camp this week.  They all are loving it.  They especially like the fact that the drills are "real football" and they get actual factual feedback about their skill levels.  They are really timing them and allowing the boys to set personal goals.  My boys are pleasantly exhausted and starving at 3pm.  That is a true sign of a successful camp!!”  Kelly--Mom of Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camper

While not on the sidelines, Mom's are every bit as important as the head coach in terms of their young players flag or tackle football development.   Moms help us when they deliver us a prepared, respectful and enthusiastic young athlete.  When we build on that foundation, it completes the circle.

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.

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/

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

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.



Youth Coaches: Don't Replace Guts with Stop Watch.

Sometimes, what is not said is the most interesting part.

On Thursday, NFL players and coaches praised a highly productive NFL wide receiver.  He is considered the best wide receiver on the team.  Read their words of praise and consider what is, in fact, not said.

What is not said is most important.

Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps


Quotes from coaches and teammates:
1. ‘‘He’s a football player.’’
2. ‘‘He’s going to do everything you ask him to do.
3.   "He’s not afraid of the dirty work.’’
4.  ‘‘No matter what situation, he’s makes a play for us,’’
5.  “A consistent receiver who’s always moving the chains,’’
6.  “He always does what he needs to do.’’
7.  “He’s got the “it” factor.”

Not once, does anyone praise the “raw athletic skills” or “breakaway speed”  or “supreme power” or “great hands” or “lightning quickness.” 

Instead, this wide-receiver succeeds by being the most prepared and consistent.  He succeeds through character and focus.  It's life skills that are determining his success, not athletic gifts.  

When youth football coaches judge players, they certainly use quantifiable scores for speed, strength, agility, catching ability and passing arm.  Those things help.

But the facts will never change. 

There are intangible aspects that a football coach cannot measure with a stop watch.

New York Giants Youth Football Camps

There are those that just “know how to win.”

There are hockey players with great “hockey sense.”

There are baseball players that “find a way to get on.”

There are basketball players that always seem to “make a play.”

And there are football players that know “how to play football.”

Youth Football Coaches:  Follow your instincts.  If you believe in a kid, give him a chance.  Don’t replace your guts with a stop watch.



Have a great Labor Day Weekend,

Tom Finks
Executive Director, 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

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/

"As Bad as You Want to Breathe" Motivation and Football Training Video is Good As It Gets!

"When you want to be successful as bad as you want to breathe, then you'll be successful!"

I assure you, this 5 minute video is worth your time--and you will pass it along.

Wrapped in magnificent football training images, renowned speaker and educator Eric Thomas lays down an incredibly powerful and motivating narrative about what it takes to be successful.

If you need motivation, check it out.

If you struggle to express “what it takes” to others, check it out.

If you want to show how a youth football player truly trains, check it out.

It goes beyond football skills and passion.  It has universal appeal that every person may enjoy.  

The Main Feature: The Football Player with Eric Thomas Narrative

Eric Thomas Class Presentation (No Football Images).

About Eric Thomas

While truly great motivation speakers, the content would challenge the very best efforts of any Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants or Philadelphia Eagles coach.

Pass along to friends, teammates and family members.

Let me know your thoughts as well.

Sincerely,

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. 

"As Bad as You Want to Breathe" Awesome Football Motivation Video

"When you want to be successful as bad as you want to breathe,
then you'll be successful!"



For your Youth Football Team
Banquet or Special Event.
Runs through November 11

CLICK FOR RULES & MORE INFO

I assure you, this 5 minute video is worth your time--and you will pass it along.

Wrapped in magnificent football training images, renowned speaker and educator Eric Thomas lays down an incredibly powerful and motivating narrative about what it takes to be successful.

If you need motivation, check it out.

If you struggle to express “what it takes” to others, check it out.

If you want to show how a youth football player truly trains, check it out.

It goes beyond football skills and passion.  It has universal appeal that every person may enjoy.  

The Main Feature: The Football Player with Eric Thomas Narrative

Eric Thomas Class Presentation (No Football Images).

About Eric Thomas

Pass along to friends, teammates and family members.

Let me know your thoughts as well.

Sincerely,

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. 

Get Cut? Why You Should Never Give Up!

It's not what you achieve, it's what you overcome.

If your child got cut from his youth football team but still loves the game, please don't give up. I assure you, no coach or team manager can make perfect decisions on every player evaluation.

Case-in-point:  Let's look at the career of Jim Finks.  Finks was a highly regarded NFL GM that made it to the NFL Hall of Fame as an Excutive for the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints.  He was also starting Quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1950's.  He was a good (not great) quarterback but  among the best NFL executives in terms of player evaluation.

1. As a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Steelers kept Finks while cutting a fellow named Johnny Unitas.  Good thing for Baltimore that Johnny Unitas did not quit football after being cut.

2.  While directing the NFL draft, Finks drafted or signed such blue chippers as Jimbo Covert, Keith Van Horne, Jay Hilgenberg and the legendary Walter Payton.  In fact, he acquired 19 of the 22 starters for the 1985 Super Bowl Bears.  But he passed on a chance to draft Notre Dame's Joe Montana.  Instead he picked Georgia running back Willie McClendon.  Ouch.

3.  In basketball, Michael Jordoan was cut from his high school basketball team.

4.  In hockey, Hall of Famer Chris Chelios was cut from U.S. International University, the only NCAA Division I hockey team west of the Rockies.   He went onto an NHL Hall of Fame career.

Politics aside, evaluating players is complicated and one person's decision should never define your self-confidence or commitment to playing youth football. The fact is a youth football coach will never know if he was right or wrong until time passes.  And one person's opinion should never define your goals, even if they create a significant road block.

As we said, it's not what you achieve, it's what you overcome.

Good luck youth football parents.  To those kids who are currently discouraged--don't give up if you love the game!

Tom Finks
Executive Director
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.

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/