Developing young athletes

Since its inception in 1999, the program has provided a youth tackle football program for young boys and girls. The program is designed to teach participants various skills at every position. Along with football instruction, all participants received counseling through a life skills development curriculum incorporated into the program. Coaches follow a specifically designed curriculum created by a sports psychologist, with different life skills integrated throughout the on-field curriculum. Subjects include responsibility, goal setting, sportsmanship, self-control, smart moves and teamwork.

At this week’s camp, players were separated into groups that took turns at various stations. At the stations, athletes went through a variety of agility drills, as well as taking part in football fundamentals, like the correct way to get in a three-point stance, the proper way to backpedal as a defensive back and the right way to catch the ball as a receiver.

Along with having fun, players at the camp were pleased with the skills they were able to learn.

“I would rather be out playing sports than just being in the house hanging around,” said Andrew Sanchez, 10, from Burbank. “Being at this camp is a lot of fun and I learned a lot.”

Max Delatore, 11, from La Crescenta said he was happy to learn a variety of skills at the camp.

“We learned how to stand in a linebacker’s stance, we learned running backs drills and different stuff with being a defensive lineman,” he said. “It’s been really fun.”

Burbank resident Chad Taylor, 11, said he enjoyed making friends and taking part in the camp with some of his buddies.

“It’s really fun to be out here with the other guys,” he said. “I really liked learning all the stuff about football.”

Amorosi found out about the NFL Junior Player Development Program through a friend who ran a similar camp in the Montebello area for five years. The coach liked the concept of the program and was determined to organize a camp locally.

“I was researching ways to develop some long-term relationships in the community and to be able to give back to the community,” Amorosi said. “What is great about the NFL program is it was developed about a decade ago in an attempt to expose more kids to football and create more interest in the sport. That is something that we obviously want to continue.”

With the first year of the program completed, Amorosi said he would like to make the camp an annual tradition.

“This is only the first year of the program here and we plan on running this camp year in and year out,” he said. “We want it to continue and we want to see it get bigger and bigger.”