Davison Index

Lions Youth Football Camp hits gridiron





 

 

By Eric Hohenthaner
INDEX Intern

GENESEE COUNTY — The Detroit Lions will conduct a minimum of nine youth football camps around the state of Michigan this summer. One camp will be held in the area at Grand Blanc High School June 16-19, from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Boys and girls ages 6-14 are eligible to participate in the camps.
The Detroit Lions Youth Football Camps are non-contact camps that stress the fundamentals of the game at the beginners, intermediate and advanced skill levels. Fundamentals will be taught on offense, defense and special teams. Life skills such as teamwork, communication, sportsmanship and the importance of education will also be taught, and camp participants will be grouped based on skill level and age.
The Detroit Lions Youth Football Camp Philosophy follows the “Seven Guiding Principles” designed by the NFL Youth Programs. Some of these principles include: make it fun, everyone plays, emphasize the fundamentals and provide encouragement.
A typical summer camp may include the following: four days of non-contact instruction, guest appearance by a current or former Lions player, chalk talk and video sessions, skills contests and scrimmages and an opportunity to win camp awards.
The Detroit Lions/Ford Field organization runs the Detroit Lions Youth Football Initiative. This is a state-wide effort designed to develop the lives of Michigan’s youth in a positive way. Besides the camps, the Detroit Lions also conduct educational school assemblies, fundamental clinics, coaching academies and other activities to help our state’s youth.
Chris Fritzsching, director of youth football for the Detroit Lions, likes the experience the camp gives the children.
“First and foremost, our objective is to show the kids how fun football really is,” Fritzsching said.
This will mark the fifth year the camps will be run.
“We started with eight camps the first year and have been growing ever since. We feel these camps give the children the life lessons they need as well as the skills to be a complete football player,” Fritzsching added.. He and the Lions have held camps all over the state of Michigan and are looking into the possibility of expanding into Toledo and the Upper Peninsula.
“We are looking to expand, but we have so many markets available to us, it’s hard to satisfy them all,” Fritzsching said.
Details:Call 313-262-2248 or visit www.detroitlions.com.


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