The NFL Play 60 Youth Football Festival and USA Football paired up with a number of big names to preach safety and fitness to the New York and New Jersey youth. The list of stars present include: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, former NFL players Lavar Arrington, Tony Casillas and Deion Sanders, and a bulk of the 2013 NFL Draft prospects.
NFL Play 60 Partners HOPsports, the National Dairy Council, Quaker Oats, and Under Armour were also on-hand to motivate the youth and their families to lead active and healthy lifestyles. Helmet-makers like Rawlings, Riddell, and Xenith were also set-up to host a helmet fitting demonstration. The Korey Stringer Institute was available to educate the local youth on the importance of hydration.
The event began with an hour-long football clinic, hosted by the stars of this year’s draft class. The lucky youth in attendance got the opportunity to learn a number of football techniques from elite athletes, while also getting in a workout. The clinic was capped off by a flag football game that featured the draft prospects.
Both the players and the kids were sporting ear-to-ear grins during the on-field portion of the event, and event that these children will cherish for the rest of their lives.
“It is exciting to be able to be a part of an event like this with kids that are as passionate about the game of football as I am,” said consensus top-five selection and former Oregon Duck Dion Jordan.
Some prospects, like Sheldon Richardson of the Missouri Tigers, were running around like overgrown children at the event.
“I absolutely loved {Play 60’s event].” I mean my shirt is drenched in sweat right now,” Richardson said with a laugh. “I love the kids, man. Helping them out is something that I wish I could do more of—guys in my position should be doing more stuff like this. Helping the kids is the future, I believe that whole-heartedly and can get behind that cause ASAP.”
After an hour-long training session of a lifetime, the children in attendance got to hear from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck about making sure the NFL is a safer game. The “Head Up Football” message stresses that players avoid leading with their head on the football field. With the influx of concussions surrounding the NFL, Goodell is trying to promote safety in all levels of football, including the youth leagues.
One of the biggest advocates for player safety is Leon Sandcastle Deion Sanders. Sanders took the time to talk to Pro Player Insiders about his take on USA Football’s mission to reduce football-related concussions.
“It’s not just giving back to the kids, its also about giving back to the parents…the parents go through this with the kids and they are the ones teaching “heads up football.” They are articulating what they have learned in their lives or what they’ve read, and it’s a wonderful addition to what the NFL is doing. Everyone emulates the best thing going—in any job. The NFL is the best brand and the sexiest initials in the world. Naturally, kids emulate what they see on TV. Our great Commissioner gets criticized for trying to change the game to make it a much safer one, but he is doing a great job. I know many people don’t agree, but it trickles down to guys in college to emulate what they see of the NFL on TV, and the guys in high school emulate what they see in college, and guys at the youth level imitate what they see in high school and on TV. So I love what is transpiring right now in the NFL and with Heads Up Football.”
The NFL Play 60 is just one of a series of community events being hosted in New York during the NFL Draft. Draft prospects and other influential people in the game of football will continue to motivate and educate the children of New York and New Jersey. Former college players will participate in other football clinics and community events to inspire and foster childhood dreams, that is until a dream of their own becomes a reality starting Thursday at Radio City Music Hall.
