Pros Teaching Football, Character and Life Lessons

While winning is obviously important to every athlete, there are also underlying lessons that a competitor can take with them after their playing time has run out. To cultivate these ideas even further, former Jacksonville Jaguars Tight End Rich Griffith has put together the Pro Football Camp for youth of Colorado.

“Our desire is to give back,” Teddi Domann, a director of the camp states. “We realized quickly we had so many resources at our fingertips and what an incredible camp we could put on if we utilize players we represent.”

Students will have no shortage of pro talent surrounding them with players from the Colts, Bengals, Rams, Dolphins, Cardinals, Broncos, Bills, Titans, Chiefs, Chargers, and Giants all offering their expertise.

On an even more technical note, Charmas Lee of Better Building Bodies and a professional trainer of NFL athletes and Olympic track athletes, will be offering strategic coaching on a variety of levels including first step quickness, high performance core training, explosive lateral movement and transferring power.

Beyond the speed and agility exercises, however, is the deeper goal of instilling the youth with character that will lead to success later in life. Even before the campers set foot on the green, they will have “off the field” time with the pro’s who will give advice on important characteristics such as perseverance, confidence, team, and integrity.
That’s why the athletes picked for the camp were chosen, not just for their talent, but the character they can pass on to the youth as well.

“There is not a single athlete coming to the camp that doesn’t have amazing character,” Domann explains. “That doesn’t mean they haven’t made mistakes but they have learned from them.”

It should come as no surprise that the camp also holds equal opportunity for the youth as an essential goal for the camp. In fact, the camp states directly on its website that one of its main objectives is to “Make this youth football camp available to all, providing scholarships to underprivileged kids.”

Only in its third year, the camp has provided 111 children with scholarships enabling them to attend the camp.

Still not sure the camp is all its cracked up to be? Consider this: not only do the pro athletes coach during the day, but at least three other events stem from the camp within two weeks, including a toy drive, golf tournament for charity and a meet the pro’s event.

The Toy Drive takes place at Mr. Biggs in Colorado Springs and admission to the event requires the donation of at least one new toy. The pro’s will be there racing the youngsters in go karts and signing jersey’s and taking pictures. All toys are donated to the Hope and Home Springs of Life Children’s Center.
For the adults wishing to contribute, a Golf tournament will be held at the Flying Horse Golf Course. Eighteen foursomes (each group with one current or former NFL pro) will shotgun start at 8 a.m. and proceeds will go towards scholarships for the football camp, and Hope to Home Christian Child Placement Agency.

The camp will be held at the UCCS/CSCS Mt. Lion Four Diamonds Sports Complex from July 8th-11th and contributions are always welcome. More information and registration can be found at www.profootballcamp.com.

So for those parents wishing to find a camp the walks the walk when it comes to combining character, discipline and competitiveness while also teaching the basic skills to compete in athletics, this Pro Football Camp may be just the ticket.