News release from the Pro Football Mini Camp:
Pro Football Mini Camp announces coaches’ clinic, charity partner for 2013 camp
(April 18, 2013) – The Pro Football Mini Camp, hosted by Fort Wayne native and NFL veteran Jason Baker, will be hosting its annual clinic for coaches on May 17 from 5:30-10pm at Wayne High School.
In addition, the camp announced Kids Against Hunger as its charity partner for 2013 and a goal of providing 100,000 meals to in-need kids around the country.
Baker, an NFL veteran and graduate of Wayne High School, founded the Pro Football Mini Camp with a vision of imparting life skills to students through intense training with the community’s finest football coaches and an emphasis on community service. Open to sixth- through eighth-grade students, the camp will take place at Wayne High School May 18 from 8am-5pm, with lunch provided, and May 19 from 12:30-5pm. There is no tuition cost for the camp; instead, students will participate in a community service leadership project in conjunction with Kids Against Hunger.
With this vision in mind, the hands-on coaches’ clinic is geared toward positively developing youth by assisting in the professional development of coaches.
“This camp is as much about developing the next generation of well-rounded coaches as it is developing well-rounded young athletes,” Baker said. “In this game, coaches have a huge impact on students, and football is about more than blocking and tackling. By focusing on coaches, we hope to provide a better experience for both coaches and students.”
At the clinic, local coaches will have the opportunity to network with other coaches, youth players, sponsors and media in the Fort Wayne community. Football participation benefits to the community and individual team members will be discussed, as well as strategies on how to increase participation. In addition to a presentation by guest speaker Rich Skrosky, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ball State University, the annual High School and Youth Coach of the Year Awards will be presented during the clinic, and attending coaches will be provided with a buffet style dinner by Hall’s Catering. The practical “X’s & O’s” breakout sessions will be followed by a panel discussion focused primarily on health and safety, but covering other issues that impact kids on the field.
Panelists include:
- Dr. Henry Feuer – Co-director of Indiana Sports Concussion Network; served with the NFL return to play head, neck and spine committee; Indianapolis Colts; University of Indiana, Ball State University, Purdue University, and Indiana State University; Indianapolis 500; Brickyard 400
- Ken Harkenrider – Positive Coaches Alliance; Athletic Director of Canterbury High School
- Russ Isaacs – Snider HS Athletic Director; 18 year Head Football Coach; 9x SAC Champion; 2x State Finalist; 1992 State Champion
- Senator Travis Holdman – District 19, author of concussion-related legislation related to high school athletic participation
- Bryan Bourcier – Co-Founder and Chief Performance Officer of AWP; Physical Therapist at Parkview Health, ATC, PT
- Dave Kuhn – Co-Owner of Indiana Physical Therapy; member of Olympic sports medicine staff for US Sports Festival in 1990, Pan American Games in 1991, Summer Olympic Games in 1996, Winter Olympic Games in 1998, Summer Olympic Games in 2000, Gymnastics World Championship Games in 1996; member of USA Swimming Sports Medicine Society; US Olympic Sports Medicine Society; athletic trainer at Bishop Luers HS
To sign up for the coaches’ clinic, register for the camp, or help the camp reach its goal of 100,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger, visit profootballminicamp.com.