NFL Heroes Take Action at Youth Football Camps

Pro Sports Experience is the official youth football camp management company for the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.  We deliver comprehensive, non-contact football instruction for kids ages 6-14 years old.

At every youth football camp, we invite "NFL Heroes."  

Typically, they work with us on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the five-day camp week.

Heroes are former NFL players, fathers and family men that get great reward by teaching kids through football.  They supplement our core coaches with great instruction, energy and leadership. 

The term "Hero" is an appropriate for many reasons.  These men played in the NFL--and that speaks to their extreme dedication, work ethic, mental toughness and good fortune.  They are an elite group.

Most are not marquee names.  As parents and football fans, we recognize their names. 

As you would expect, the campers do not.  However, once the campers meet these retired players, shake their hands, follow their instruction and listen to their messages, something wonderful happens.  The kids gain a special appreciation for these unique camp guests.  And within a short period of time, these NFL Alumni become a true Camp Heroes to all that attend.  The campers seek and cherish their autographs just as much as any star quarterback.  And our coaches seek their respect as we work to represent the NFL properly.  And most important, the message these Camp Heroes deliver is right on target.  Enjoy the experience, respect others, practice hard and have fun!

Here's a look at some of the men we proudly call Heroes at our youth camps. 

CHICAGO BEARS YOUTH CAMP HEROES
(Visit www.BearsCamps.com for more)
Darnell Autry (Northwestern): Running Back, 1997
Macey Brooks (James Madison U): WR, 1998-2000
Ron Cox (Fresno St.): Linebacker, 1990-97
Wendell Davis (LSU): Wide Receiver, 1988-93
Robin Earl (Washington): Running Back, 1977-82

Allan Ellis (UCLA): Defensive Back, 1973-80
Kris Haines (Notre Dame): WR, 79-81           
Al Harris (ASU): Defensive End, 1979-84          
Emery Moorehead (Colorado): Tight End, 1977-88
Jim Morrissey (Michigan State): LB, 1985-93
Mickey Pruitt (Colorado): Linebacker, 1988-90
Revie Sorey (Illinois): Guard, 1975-83
Calvin Thomas (Illinois): Running Back, 1982-1988
James Thornton (Cal State Fullerton): TE, 1988-92
Keith Van Horne (USC) Offensive Lineman, 1981-1993

GREEN BAY PACKERS YOUTH CAMP HEROES
(Visit www.PackersCamps.com for more)

John Anderson: University of Michigan, LB, 1978-1989
Ron Cox: Fresno State, Linebacker, 1996
Johnnie Gray: Cal State Fullerton, Safety, 1975-1983
Ahman Green:  Nebraska, Running Back, 2001-2009
Larry Krause: St. Norbert, Running Back, 1970-1974
Dexter McNab: Florida, Running Back, 1992-1994
Bryce Paup: Northern Iowa, Linebacker, 1990-1994
Paul Rudzinski: Michigan State, Linebacker, 1978-1982
Bill Schroeder: Wisconsin Lacrosse, WR, 1994-2001

NEW YORK GIANTS YOUTH CAMP HEROES
(Visit www.NYGiantsCamps.com for more)
Bill Ard, (Wake Forest) Guard - (1981-88)
Stephen Baker, (Fresno State) WR - (1987-1992)
Scott Brunner, (Delaware) Quarter Back - (1980-1983)
Chris Calloway, (Michigan) WR - (1992-1998)
Eric Dorsey, (Notre Dame) DE - (1986-92)
Keith Elias, (Princeton) RB - (1994-96)
Sam Garnes, (Cincinnati) Safety - (1997-2001)
Rodney Hampton, (Georgia) RB - (1990 - 1997)
Sean Landeta, (Towson) Punter - (1985-92)
George Martin, (Oregon) DE - (1975-88)
Curtis McGriff, (Alabama) DT - (1980-87)
Roman Oben, (Louisville) OL (1996-99)
Lee Rouson, (Colorado) Running Back, 1985 - 1990
Brian Saxton, (Boston College) Tight End - (1995-1997)
Billy Taylor, (Texas Tech) Running Back - (1978-1981)
Steve Thurlow, (Stanford) Running Back - (1964-1966)
Odessa Turner, (Northwestern-LA) Wide Receiver - (1987-91)
Charles Way, (Virginia) Full Back/Running Back - (1995-99)
Perry Williams, (North Carolina) Defensive Back- (1984-93)

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMPS
(See www.EaglesCamps.com for more)
Fred Barnett (Arkansas State): Wide Receiver, 1990-1997
Bill Bergey (Arkansas State): Linebacker, 1974-1980
Garry Cobb (USC): Linebacker, 1985-1987
Ben Hawkins (Arizona State): WR, 1966-1973
Jim Kelly (Notre Dame): Tight End, 1965-1967
Sean Landeta (Towson): Punter, 1999-2002
Frank LeMaster (Kentucky): LB, 1974-1982
Joe Pagliei (Clemson): Running Back, 1959
Vince Papale (St.Joseph): WR, 1976-1978
Joe Pisarcik (New Mexico State): QB, 1980-1984
Mike Reichenbach (East Stroudsbury): LB, 1984-89
Pete Retzlaff (S.Dakota St): RB, WR, TEnd, 1956-66
Mike Schad (QueensUniversity): OL, 1989-93
William Thomas (Texas A&M): LB, 1991-2001

For more about our camps, visit http://www.prosportsexperience.com/ or call 312-226-5553.

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

 

Food Additives and Children's Health

Food additives are coming under an increasingly intense spotlight as they relate to children's health. 

A recent Trib Local article points out that "British medical journal The Lancet presented evidence that a mix of additives commonly found in children’s foods increases hyperactivity."  

Researchers concluded that findings lend support for the case that food additives exacerbate hyperactive behaviors (inattention, impulsivity and overactivity) in children.”

Read more from Trib Local.

NFL Teams Winning Kids with Safe, Non-Contact Camps and Team Heroes

April 8, 2011: Contact Tom Finks at 312.226.5553.

Every professional sports organization competes for the attention of the young fan---kids ages 6 to 14 years old---all of whom are deciding their favorite sports and long-term team loyalties.  

NFL teams pay particularly close attention to this decision.  As the nation’s most popular sport, football has a tremendous advantage.  Still, other sports options such as soccer, hockey and basketball provide formidable competition.  So how does an NFL team sustain its place as “favorite sport” among the youngest fan demographic? 

One strategy features NFL teams providing terrific opportunities for children to learn and play the great game of football through safe, non-contact Youth Football Camps.

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

This summer, four NFL teams will offer a combined 80 non-contact, week-long, day-camps for kids ages 6 to 14 years old.

All camps use a safe, non-contact program model that is the an effective way to teach the kids, while providing comfort to parents with concerns about tackle football.  The philosophy is simple:   Today’s youth football players are the NFL stars and fans of tomorrow.  The more kids understand and play the game, the more they like it.

“We want football to be accessible to kids.” says program director Tom Finks. “In order to do this, the camps need to be conveniently located, safe and high quality. We have tremendous coaching resources, including many alumni NFL heroes.  The non-contact format allows us to safely introduce the game to newcomers, while at the same time we can challenge and develop experienced players.”

While youth football camps are common, very few non-contact programs are available. Finks believes the Bears, Packers, Giants and Eagles are filling that void and providing a great option for kids who like the game.

Finks has been around football his entire life.  His late father Jim Finks was once the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints General Manager and is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.  And he is applying some of his Dad’s philosophy to the camp curriculum. 

“One thing I learned from my Dad is athleticism comes first,” said Finks. “Whether it was a quarterback, linebacker or an offensive lineman, the player needed to demonstrate a wide variety of skills, speed and agility.  He loved linemen who could run, catch and shoot a basketball. That idea of ‘developing athleticism’ is a key part of our non-contact football camps.”

Finks listed a number of unique modifications Pro Sports Experience applies to their camp initiative.  The purpose is to make the camps as accessible as possible for kids to attend.  Those differences include:

*NON-CONTACT INSTRUCTION:  All program locations offer non-contact instruction.   With non-contact instruction, any athlete who likes the game can try it.  Kids wear t-shirts and shorts and develop skills without any issues related to tackle practice.

*HIGH QUALITY STAFF WITH REAL NFL HEROES:  Camps are led by professional educators with high school or college coaching experience.  These staffers travel to all camp locations.  Former NFL players such as the John Anderson,  Johnnie Gray, Fred Barnett, Bill Bergey, Robin Earl, Al Harris, Jim Morrissey,  Eric Dorsey, Bill Schroeder, William Thomas, Perry Williams and others provide supplemental instruction at all camps. Certified athletic trainers are also available. 

*CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:  Pro Sports Experience manages the official youth football camps of the Bears, Packers, Eagles and Giants for a combined total of 80 camp locations scheduled during June and July, therefore making the program geographically convenient for many. 

*FIVE-DAY CAMPS:  Programs are week-long, full-day camps that provide comprehensive instruction to kids ages 6 to 14 years old. The full-day format certainly helps households with two working parents.

*THE RIGHT PRICE:  Campers pay anywhere from $12 to $15 an hour.  Group discounts, customer discount opportunities and payment plans are available. Financial aid scholarships are also available. 

For more about NFL Team Youth Football Camps, visit http://www.prosportsexperience.com/ or call 312.226.5553.

Our Teams Place 4 Top Ten Head Coaches--ESPN Power Rankings

Pro Sports Experience is extremely proud of its association as youth camp management company for the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

And we are extremely pleased to see that all four youth camp NFL partners placed a coach in the ESPN Top 10 Head Coach Power Rankings.  The list includes 3. Andy Reid (Eagles), 4. Mike McCarthy (Packers), 6. Tom Coughlin (Giants) and 8. Lovie Smith (Bears).

All of our youth camp coaches are extremely proud to be associated with these great coaches and men.  We look forward to properly representing them in summer camps for kids ages 6-14 years old!

Tom Finks
Pro Sports Experience

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

The Peanut Allergy Controversey for Children in Florida

As youth football camp managers, we do everything possible to accommodate all children that want to attend our camps--period, full stop.  That includes kids with peanut allergies.

Peanut allergies can be life threatening.  In the most serious cases, a nut or peanut allergy can cause anaphylaxis (say: ah-nuh-fuh-lak-sis).  This is a severe allergic reaction in which a person's blood pressure can drop, breathing tubes narrow and the tongue swells. People at risk for this allergy have to be very careful and need a plan for handling emergencies, when they might need to use special medicine to stop these symptoms from getting worse.   Children attending our camps have such circumstances.

Importantly, I hope that we determine WHY the incidence of life-threatening allergies, peanut related or otherwise, seem to be so prevalent among children the last ten years or so. 

What has caused the perceived increase in life-threatening allergies for children and families?

Here are articles regarding the Florida controversy and what parent's are saying. 

Reuters: Peanut Allergy Stirs Controversy at Florida

Fox News:  Amid Protest, Florida School Stands Behind Tough New Peanut Allergy Regulations

Tom Finks
Executive Director, Pro Sports Experience

Pro Sports Experience manages Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps. 

Ever Wonder How NFL Players Run So Fast?

The 2011 NFL Scouting Combine ended yesterday.  This week-long showcase is held at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and tests the physical and mental ability of NFL hopefuls in front of coaches, general managers, and scouts. 

At Pro Sports Experience Youth Football Camps, athletes are given the chance to participate in a combine of their own, as competitions are held in the 40-yard dash, the 3 cone drill and the shuttle run, which are just three of the six main workouts performed at the real NFL combine.

Make no mistake: NFL-bound athletes work hard and devote endless hours to training and conditioning in an effort to increase speed and strength.  But sometimes, their remarkable abilities makes you wonder if they have something going for them that the rest of us don't, especially in terms of sheer speed.

The 40-yard dash is a difficult race; it requires  explosive speed from a static start since there is limited distance to gain momentum.  In human muscles, there are Slow Twitch (Type I) and Fast Twitch (Type II) muscle fibers, and the amount of each that is in the muscle of any given person is genetically determined. 

Slow Twitch fibers are efficient at using oxygen to generate more fuel; they fire more slowly than Fast Twitch fibers and can go for a while before they fatigue.  Marathon runners, for instance, have a lot of Slow Twitch fibers.  Fast Twitch fibers, on the other hand, are good for anaerobic activity and can rapidly generate strength and speed, but tire faster than Slow Twitch fibers.  Athletes with a lot of Fast Twitch fibers perform incredibly well in the 40-yard dash. 

Now that we know the science of speed and how it is part of some people from birth, it's safe to say that Chris Johnson, who holds the NFL Combine 40-yard dash record of 4.24 seconds, and the rest of the elite athletes who participate, are "born fast."  However, there is no way of knowing who is "born fast" and who isn't, and the only way you will find out is if you push yourself hard in practice and conditioning, day in and day out.

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

Ever Wonder How NFL Players Run So Fast?

Last Thursday, the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine began, and lasts through tomorrow, March 1.  This week-long showcase is held at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and tests the physical and mental ability of NFL hopefuls in front of coaches, general managers, and scouts. 

At Pro Sports Experience Youth Football Camps, athletes are given the chance to participate in a combine of their own, as competitions are held in the 40-yard dash, the 3 cone drill and the shuttle run, which are just three of the six main workouts performed at the real NFL combine.

Make no mistake: NFL-bound athletes work hard and devote endless hours to training and conditioning in an effort to increase speed and strength.  But sometimes, their remarkable abilities makes you wonder if they have something going for them that the rest of us don't, especially in terms of sheer speed.

The 40-yard dash is a difficult race; it requires  explosive speed from a static start since there is limited distance to gain momentum.  In human muscles, there are Slow Twitch (Type I) and Fast Twitch (Type II) muscle fibers, and the amount of each that is in the muscle of any given person is genetically determined. 

Slow Twitch fibers are efficient at using oxygen to generate more fuel; they fire more slowly than Fast Twitch fibers and can go for a while before they fatigue.  Marathon runners, for instance, have a lot of Slow Twitch fibers.  Fast Twitch fibers, on the other hand, are good for anaerobic activity and can rapidly generate strength and speed, but tire faster than Slow Twitch fibers.  Athletes with a lot of Fast Twitch fibers perform incredibly well in the 40-yard dash. 

Now that we know the science of speed and how it is part of some people from birth, it's safe to say that Chris Johnson, who holds the NFL Combine 40-yard dash record of 4.24 seconds, and the rest of the elite athletes who participate, are simply born fast.

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

Learn more at www.ProSportsExperience.com.

Christy Lukes

Pro Sports Experience, LLC