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/

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 Breath" 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. 

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/

Does Madden NFL 2012 Put Parents in Bad Mood?

In terms of teaching the game, the Madden NFL 2012 might be the best way ever to independently learn football players, rules, plays and strategies.

But it's a video game.  And according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, not only do video games replace physical fitness opportunities, researchers found children who exceeded the 2 hours per day of screen time (TV or Video Games) were 1.5 to 2 times more likely to be above average in attention problems. 

Playing football is more fun than playing video football.

So, while the Madden NFL games are great fun and socially interactive, parents must effectively manage the amount of time kids stay connected to video games and TV for the child's health and cognitive development.

See both sides of the issue. 

You need a good reason to request "a stop" to video game play.  Tell them your reason.  Without a good reason, kids figure the request is arbitrary and "Dad is in a bad mood."  

As youth football camp coaches, we want kids to be physically active--every day!  And, we want your child to learn and appreciate the game of football.

Learn more.  Check out the links below.  Get your facts straight about the joy of the game and the health related issues.  You can find a balance that will work to everyone's benefit. 

MADDEN NFL 2012 REVIEW

AAP:  VIDEO GAMES LINKED TO ATTENTION PROBLEMS

KEVINMD: VIDEO GAMES LINKED TO ATTENTION PROBLEMS

Hopefully this helps your parent-child communication.

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. 

“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.