On a Mission to Make a Difference!
Kids & Pros Executive Director and former Atlanta Falcons Linebacker Buddy Curry Travels the Southeast to Spread the Word about “Heads Up Training” Football Techniques and Concussion Avoidance.
Over the past 12 years, Kids & Pros has crisscrossed the Southeast to teach proper football techniques and character education. Kids & Pros, launched in 2002, by former Atlanta Falcons Bobby Butler and Buddy Curry, is a 501 (c) 3 organization that features safe football instruction in a non-contact environment for campers ages 7-13. Their football curriculum challenges experienced players while effectively introducing newcomers to the game.
Kids & Pros Executive Director, Buddy Curry, demonstrates his proper “Heads Up Training” Techniques to youth coaches
Kids & Pros youth football camp instructors include current and retired NFL players who provide hands on teaching of “Heads Up” fundamentals as well as position specific training. Kids & Pros uses positive reinforcement to run engaging, high energy camps so kids get multiple chances to succeed in learning the fundamentals, and important take–away lessons including: the importance of good sportsmanship, the value of hard work and exceeding expectations, integrity, teamwork and perseverance.
Kids & Pros trained over 3800 athletes and 650 coaches in 2013, and has trained over 15,000 young athletes to date through their youth football camps.
But to Buddy Curry, they have only just begun.
“We’re just scratching the surface here,” said Kids & Pros President Buddy Curry. “Our goal at Kids & Pros is to now ‘deepen’ the understanding of these concepts by:
–Working with youth coaches, parents and kids to inform and teach correct football fundamentals, safe tackling techniques, proper fitting equipment and concussion safety.
–Supporting coaches to implement these “Heads Up Training” football tackling techniques and make each practice a learning and fun experience.
–Growing the number of areas teaching “Heads Up Training” football.”
And Kids & Pros is working to do just that. In one year (2013), Kids & Pros has trained over 3880 athletes through their camps and clinics, and has conducted 29 speaking engagements, reaching over 2580 coaches and parents; and that number is climbing weekly.
Kids & Pros offer “Heads Up Training” to kids, parents and coaches
Here is a quick look at the Kids & Pros offerings, to help teach the concept of “Head’s Up Training” football to all involved in youth sports:
–“Heads Up Training” Coaches Clinics: Youth football clinics which feature both classroom and on-the-field demonstrations. The focus is sharing football fundamentals and character education with youth coaches.
–“Heads Up Training” Football Safety Clinics and Camps: Buddy Curry, Kids & Pros Executive Director and USA Football Master Trainer, and the Kids & Pros Camp Staff, comprised of former NFL players, incorporate safe “Heads Up Training” tackling techniques and position fundamentals, along with life-skills training into 1-day clinics and 3-day camps for athletes ages 7-13.
–Special Annual Camps – Camp EQUIP – An Inner City Camp with the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation: Kids & Pros teams up with the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation and other Atlanta area business partners annually to offer special camp experiences for inner city youth in the Atlanta area. Camp EQUIP features football for male campers, basketball for female campers—for youth ages 7-13, taught by both professional and college athletes.
Buddy Curry poses with NYO campers during their Kids & Pros football camp
“Heads Up Training” Parent Information Sessions: Kids & Pros teams up with the Atlanta Falcons to assist Georgia youth football leagues and school programs to offer parent information sessions on the importance of proper equipment fitting, concussion awareness, and Heads Up tackling for injury prevention
Kids & Pros offer “Heads Up Training” to kids, parents and coaches[/caption]–Kids & Pros Life Skills Coaching Sessions: Kids & Pros provides character education and motivational presentations for school, corporate, and civic groups. These inspiring stories shared by current and former NFL professionals provide important takeaway lessons, including: good sportsmanship, the value of hard work, exceeding expectations, integrity, teamwork, respecting others, and perseverance. Sessions are offered for both youth at school functions and adults in corporate settings, focusing on life skills training and mentoring from the Kids & Pros staff (NFL Players) to build confidence and inspire high achieving teams.
And, to help give back in the communities they serve, Kids & Pros Community Corner Events and Outreach Programs hosts annual projects including a holiday event at a local Boys & Girls Club, equipment donations, and school and community recreation center beautification projects to help make a difference off the field.
2013 Camp Equip Awards Ceremony
If you only take away one thing from this feature, Kids & Pros would like to share this— many of the injuries happening in football and other contact sports today could be avoided by utilizing safe, proper techniques. “For example, in football, if a player initiates contact with the front part of his body instead of the crown of his helmet, or the top of his shoulder pads, and focuses on three things: “ripping the arms up, exploding hips, and skying eyes,” players would ensure they would be looking up at the point of impact, and that would be a great start,” said Curry.
Two great resources for additional information Kids & Pros shares with those that attend their camps and clinics are listed below:
Heads Up Tackling – Preventing Injuries
http://usafootball.com/health-safety/how-to-tackle
CDC site, in partnership with USA Football
http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/pdf/Football_Fact_Sheet_Coaches-a.pdf
For more information on Kids & Pros, or how you can help them spread the word about safe tackling techniques and concussion awareness- please log in to: www.kidsandpros.com.