On Friday afternoon, Panini and a few NFL players hosted a skills clinic for Pop Warner football players at the local YMCA. The skills coaches were Teddy Bridgewater, Doug Baldwin Jr., Le’Veon Bell, Greg Ward Jr., and Leonard Fournette. Panini has been around since 1961 and for the last eight years they have been active with signing training cards and other memorabilia while hosting skills clinics for the youth. The company creates books, stickers, trading cards, and other items as well.
Bell, Bridgewater, Ward Jr., Baldwin Jr., and Fournette were encouraging as the kids ran the ladder, ran routes, caught passes, and showed off their dance moves. This was Bridgewater’s second clinic and he was supportive of the kids catching passes from him. Bell was adamant in making sure the kids danced and went out of his way to make this a memorable event for them.
This was a great event because it allows people to see a different side of the players that people usually do not see or have access to. The players were able to have fun, show their personality, bond with kids, and be life coaches.
Jason Howarth, Vice President of Marketing for Panini, offered a great deal of insight on Panini’s organization and spoke passionately on what it means to host these events. He detailed that these clinics give kids opportunities to experience the Super Bowl with players who teach not only skills, but also life lessons.
Howarth said, “We always huddle up the kids and get the guys to talk to them about just working hard. Working hard in the classroom. Working hard at whatever you’re doing outside the classrooms.”
Every year Panini gets players that are willing to come out and spend time with the kids. In recent years, players like Derek Carr, Devin McCourty, Jason McCourty, and Andy Dalton have been active with the Panini family. Dalton has done it four times and Howarth joked they might need to change the name to the “Andy Dalton Skills Clinic.”
Howarth offered insight on why he loves this event as well.
“I just love being able to give kids the opportunity to interact with the athletes and let the athletes have fun,” Howarth said enthusiastically.
The kids had a great time and the players made that happen with their energy and positivity. The Super Bowl is in Houston and with an event like this it only adds to the kids’ experience.
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