Posts by Youth Football Online

USA Football Study Reports On Safety In Kids Football

May22
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Just how safe is youth football? The picture painted by the media is that the sport is dangerous and barbaric for children to play. And let’s not forget all of the concussion talk that has been hovering around youth football like a black cloud. A USA Football study is following 2000 kid football athletes in 6 US states to help learn more about safety in the game.

The initial results from this study are extremely encouraging.

90% of the kid athletes monitored did not report an injury. Of the few that did, most were able to get back into their games. The most noted complaint were scrapes and bruises. Concussions occurred less than 4% of the time (a percentage similar to soccer).

Over the last few years, the game has taken an abrupt shift to get safer. It starts with coaching- there are now various online resources to help a coach get better informed about safety practices. There’s a youtube video for everything! Pop Warner and other leagues are restricting hits in practice and are curbing rules to result in smarter, safer play. The equipment manufacturers are producing better helmets. The continuing studies at Virginia Tech by Stefan Duma are helping in these efforts. Helmet manufacturers want a seal of approval- a 5 star rating from VA Tech, read about the latest helmet to receive a 5 star rating.

This recent study proves that progress is being made and the ‘warrior mentality’ (when referring to injuries) in football is fading. We expect the second year of the study to be a better success than the first, with less kids reporting injuries. It’s hopeful that parents that were once afraid to allow their kids to play football, will reconsider their decision. The benefits of playing this game are immense.

Posted in News, Youth Football Benefits

Fundraising 101: Why You Need a ‘Donate Now’ Button On Your League Website

May14
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Fundraising is a fact of life for nonprofit youth football organizations. Like it or not, it needs to be done. Online fundraising is one of the fastest growing methods for fundraising, and not surprisingly so. Almost everyone is on the world wide web; so naturally fundraising on the net is fast, convenient and easily accessible. For these reasons online fundraising is both logical and effective.

Simply adding a “Donate Now” button to your league website is a great way to start. Keep in mind that people who make donations online are looking for a simple, straight-forward and easy to understand way to donate. Make sure your button fits the bill. If the process is confusing or difficult, donors will be turned off and will be less likely to finish the process.

Also, if adding a “Donate Now” button, your organization needs to be able to accept credit card donations. You can do this by becoming a merchant at a bank, or by using a third-party credit card processor. There is a fee charged for this service, and the amount will vary depending upon the institution. Banks fees tend to be higher than a third-party processor. However, with a bank your organization’s name will appear on the donor’s statement, whereas if you use a third-party processor, it is their name that appears on the donor’s statement, which can be confusing to your donor. Also, sometimes there will be a delay in receiving the funds with a third-party processor. PayPal is a secure method for receiving funds which can also be used for fundraising. Consider these options carefully.

Set up a “Monthly Donation” plan. Doesn’t that sound perfect? Lots of little donations add up, just like the larger donations. Maybe you can offer incentives or have a give-away for your monthly donors.

Request Fundraising.com’s FREE Fundraising Guide
Get all the information you need to start raising money!

There are a number of reputable websites which will help you organize, advertise and facilitate your online fundraising campaign. There are a host of different services and a wide range of fees. There are a lot of great online fundraising resources available on the internet, just keep in mind that they are looking make money for themselves too. So make sure to do your due diligence before signing on the dotted line.

You might not realize that in forty states, a nonprofit is required to register in order to solicit funds, and not limited to online fundraising. These requirements are not new, but recently they are being more widely enforced. To assure that your organization is compliant, contact your State’s Attorney’s Office or the Office of the Secretary of State for your state in order to find out how to be compliant.

Publicity is fundamental to a successful fundraiser. Get your word out there via social media and word of mouth. Make sure that all your football mailings mention your quick and easy online donations. Explain to your organizations goals and how you plan to use the money. People will be more willing to help youth football organizations that they feel good about, than one they don’t know much about. Lastly, make sure your message is positive and upbeat!

Posted in Fundraising

The Greatest Youth Football Fundraising Ideas Ever.

Apr23
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

One thing that is true of all youth football fundraising efforts is that you want to get a good reward for your efforts. With so many worthy causes soliciting funds, it becomes even more important to have your fundraiser stand aside from the others. There is a delicate balance between doing something and doing something with mass appeal which will attract a lot people and hopefully a lot of support. Here are some different, and effective, fundraising ideas.

Hold a sporting equipment yard sale. Who doesn’t have a garage, basement or closet with some “gently used” sporting equipment that their child has outgrown, or which is unused for any other reasons? Here is a perfect opportunity your community members to sell some of their underused sporting equipment, find that piece of sporting equipment that they themselves need and also support your organization. Whether you sell a table (space) at the yard sale, use a central cashier in order to charge a commission on all sales, or some combination, it is a “win” for all involved.

Make use of your community’s local resources and talent. Every community has its own local color and resources. With a little creativity, these resources can become an asset for your organization. Is there a local musician, magician, comedian, etc. who would be willing to donate some of their time for a worthy cause? Is there a new business in town, such as a bakery or dance studio, which would be willing to donate some of their goods in exchange for some publicity? Maybe a local photographer would be willing to do a professional photo-shoot for a small booking fee, in exchange for free publicity and the possibility of residual sales. On a larger scale, you could organize a local business expo, which would showcase the best of what your community has to offer. What about a natural resource like a river or snow? Could something like that be a backdrop for a fundraiser?

Rent a worker or a youth football team. One of your organizations’ most valuable assets is the team members themselves. Think about how the efforts of your team can directly benefit the members of the community. One idea is to do spring and/or fall yard clean-up efforts. This idea requires very little overhead, since most of the equipment needed your own garage. Yard clean-up is a valuable service, certainly worth paying for. This fundraiser gets the kids directly involved in helping the team. Done well in the spring, and people will be begging you to do run the fundraiser again in the fall.

Go where there will be crowd. Set up a gift wrap table at the local craft fair. Look for events in your community where you could set up a raffle table, or sell concessions. How about setting up a “kid’s craft” corner at an event, so the parents can participate and their kids can be entertained.

Go straight to their stomachs. Assembling and delivering subs and other munchies on Super Bowl Sunday is a great fundraiser. You can take orders, shop and assemble the sandwiches to order. Delivery can be scheduled for right before the game or half-time. Everyone in the organization can get involved in this fundraiser. If you make good sandwiches, and get the orders right and delivered on time, you can guarantee that you will have customers looking for sandwiches next year. You can expand your menu to include drinks, snack foods, chili, wings and more.

Go for convenience. A quick and convenient fundraising idea is to “text-a-donation.” There are services available for mobile giving. For a fee, you can set up so a fast and simple. Text a key word and make a donation. It can’t get much easier than that!

When you choose a fundraiser make sure to consider your target, goal and resources. Make sure it is fun, unique and pertinent to your community.

Posted in Fundraising

The True Meaning of “Winning In Youth Football”

Apr02
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

With high-quality coaching, youth football can have a positive influence on every player that participates in the sport. When people hear or see the phrase “winning youth football” they automatically think about the win-loss record or the final score of a game. There is so much more to the phrase “winning youth football” than just the score at the end of the game. If you implement the following philosophies you will not only win football games, but you will be a winning youth football coach to the fullest meaning of the phrase.

Coach Jeff’s 2012 Peewees

Have Integrity. Be honest with all parents, coaches, and players. Youth football coaches need to handle themselves with professionalism at all times, win- lose, or draw. Always play and coach within the rules of the game, cheating is just pathetic. I have a saying, real recognizes real. When you are not honest, people will recognize it. Also, running up the score has no place in youth football. Coaches must ALWAYS lead by positive example. I have another saying, and this goes for all players, coaches, and parents, if you have nothing positive to say, then keep your mouth closed.

Be Organized. Practices must be organized and upbeat. All assistant coaches must understand their job/plans and must be able to implement it. In youth football practice time is limited, being organized is crucial for getting the most out of each practice. Have a plan for every practice and game.

Reward hard work. Like many other youth football coaches my staff and I put in a ton of time. My staff and I do scouting, spend hours watching film and planning practices. So when a player is committed and works hard, we will reward them with additional playing time. We reward our hardworking players with playing time, hard worker of the week awards, and weakly captain honors. Preach to your players that in football and in life, when you work hard, good things will happen. Now that is winning youth football.

Resilience and Sudden Change. When something goes wrong, do you tend to bounce back or fall apart? True character will revile itself when things are at their worst. Pride yourself on coaching your best when things are not going well. Always keep a positive attitude and never panic. When the game or practice is not going well winning youth football coaches will keep their cool and keep their players focused. If you cannot handle the pressure, it will rub off on the kids. Winning youth football teams are able to handle adversity and always stay together as a team. Also, when faced with adversity your true leaders will reveal themselves. Resilience is needed to flourish in football and in life. Resilience is a trait needed to succeed in our social society, work places, sports, and all levels of education. Anytime something goes wrong we use the word “reload”, which means we physically and mentally move onto the next play.

Fundamentals. You must be fundamentally sound in every aspect football. It is vital that children play with proper fundamentals when blocking and tackling. This is not just needed for successful football play, but for player safety as well. It is extremely important to rep the basic fundamentals at every practice. A winning youth football team plays with great fundamentals on a consistent basis. Spend less time scheming and more time on fundamentals.

Discipline. Place a high value on discipline. Doing the little things right is the difference between winning and losing and safe and unsafe. Players and parents need to make sure they have a nutritional diet and they stay properly hydrated before every practice and game. Getting enough sleep the night before a practice and game is also vital for overall performance. Coaches need to implement a structured team environment and handle any disciplinary problems right off the bat. Install a team first environment, bulling and negative comments should not be tolerated. Set the tone from day one, if the players do not respect you as a coach they will lose discipline and it will influence every aspect of the game.

Compete. The goal should be to win every single game and get better after every single practice. Football is a very competitive game. Players and coaches should never quit and always coach hard no matter what situation they are in. Implement competition among players in practice and always compete with yourself as a coach to get better. Compete in practice consistently and the players will compete in the game consistently. Always strive to be the best. Always give a 100% effort. But never win at the expense of the kids.

Enthusiasm. Keeping things upbeat and fun is the receipt for success in youth football. If you lose the attention of the players, it is difficult to get it back. To avoid having the kids lose focus, coach with a positive upbeat tempo and have some fun. Kids react to emotions and energy more so than anything. Having a well planned practice will allow the kids to keep busy and focused. Be sure to script practices so that they are organized and move fluently. Have fun, be upbeat! Coach with positive emotion.

Communication. Coaches that are successful have solid communication skills. It is not easy to teach children football plays and fundamentals. When communicating with kids make sure you have a loud tone and you keep things moving fluently and be informed. When coaches are not prepare or do not fully understand what they are teaching, that is when communication becomes a problem. When you fully understand something, it is a heck of a lot easier to teach it.

Communication with parents is vital! You must be able to interact with the parents fluently. Be organization and make sure you and the parents are all on the same page. It will make life a lot easier when you are friendly and get along with the parents. Here is a suggestion, make a letter to the parents, outlining goals, contact information, and write a little about what they can except from the coaches. This will make you look professional and it will make a strong first impression on the parents.

Posted in Coaching Defense, Coaching Offense, From the Gut, General Coaching Tips, Youth Football Benefits - Tagged coaching youth football successfully, winning youth football

Roman Oben’s Football Showcase Camp in Randolph NJ

Mar28
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Youth Football Online visited 12 year NFL veteran, Super Bowl champ and NY Giants broadcaster Roman Oben for his Roman’s Soldier Showcase. This was a mini spring football camp for players in the 8^th to 11^thgrade. The showcase had some of the best football talent in New York and New Jersey in attendance along with a group of top level coaches.

We were instantly greeted at the entrance of the Indoor Sports Pavilion (in Randolph, NJ) by Roman Oben and his team. Everyone was in great spirits, ready for some spring football. The day kicked off with a welcome speech from Roman Oben and a coaches introduction. The coaching staff was well assembled, a group of ex-NFL’ers and skilled coaches. Roman further explained expectations for showcase participants.

Camp begins by stretching and warm-ups with speed coach Brad Vacarro.

I guess it was fitting that a speed coach be in attendance because what stood out most about this showcase was the amount of speed these kids displayed. Brad is very technical with his approach to warm-ups and speed/strength training. We noted down some of his key recommendations:

For lunges, go slow, hips and chest up, the proper way arms opposite legs.
For push-ups, wide, go wide! When going down- count to 4, go slow.

Following an excellent warm up, the kids then went into individual position drills with their position coaches. The running backs worked on the proper method of taking a handoff. The RBs then concentrated extensively on ball security. Here was a youth football running back “crab” drill that we love:

There was a large turnout of skill position players. The QBs also received a lot of technical instruction. They were taught how to throw the ball on 2, 5, and 7 step drops. They also worked in drills on throwing on the run. The quarterbacks got plenty of passes in and such threw to a variety of targets.

The offensive and defensive linemen also got a ton of work in. The offensive linemen worked on run blocking techniques, pass blocking techniques and blocking assignments. The defensive linemen worked a lot of block destruction and pass blocking techniques. These linemen were also able to get some tips from 12 NFL veteran left tackle Roman Oben. If you’re a lineman you need to make it out to this camp.

Roman Oben camp instruction

Participants took part in 1 on 1’s, 2 on 2’s and 7 on 7 competitions. Here’s where we got a chance to see individual talent. Lots of speed!

This showcase had Rivals.com and a few other scouts in attendance. Matt from Rivals.com had a few words for the kids that were of note. He explained that the Rivals.com star ratings doesn’t matter and athletes shouldn’t take the ratings too seriously. What is important is the coaches opinion. This was a well organized and efficient camp with superior coaching. Roman Oben is genuine person who has the kids’ best interest in mind.

Here’s Roman talking about his motivation for the Roman’s Soliders Showcase:

Posted in General Coaching Tips, Offensive Linemen, Videos, Youth Football Camps, Youth Football Drills, Youth Football Training

This Fundraiser Will Make You The Most Money

Mar08
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

That’s an interesting question that needs to be looked at from two different angles. The first way to look at it is purely in the context of the amount of money the fundraiser can generate as compared to the expenses. The other way to look at it is also taking into consideration the amount of time, effort and money involved in running the fundraiser.

So, what fundraiser is potentially the most profitable?

Almost certainly, a large-scale event such as a banquet, dance, golf tournament, casino night, etc. is potentially the most profitable. If done right, can generate a lot of money, but the down-side is the amount of time, money, organization, man-power and dedication needed pull it off the right way. And if done the wrong way, the fundraiser could end up costing your organization money. These are large-scale fundraisers, with a large-scale commitment and the potential for large-scale rewards.

Realistically, these grand fundraisers are not right for all organizations. It might make sense to look for a fundraiser that is profitable and also requires less effort and money upfront. One of the most profitable types of fundraiser is selling from the of candies, wrapping paper and candles. These fundraisers require almost no budget, is relatively easy to run and most people who are asked can find something in the catalogue to purchase – quick, simple, inexpensive and profitable. Not terribly exciting, but effective.

In addition, any fundraiser where the “prize” is donated to the organization will yield a big return. This would include raffle baskets, where many, if not most, items are donated. Of course there needs to be a reason for people to visit your raffle table, so look for an opportunity like a dance or show to see if you can set up a raffle table. Be creative in asking for donations. Maybe someone has season’s tickets for a favorite sports team and would be willing to donate tickets to a game to a raffle. Is there a new business looking for some publicity? How about raffling services including housecleaning or yard work? Make sure to mention to perspective donors that there is a tax deduction for donating to a raffle.

Make use of your organizations’ resources. In the case of youth football, you have young, strong, energetic, manpower. A fundraiser such as yard clean-up or selling subs for Super Bowl Sunday uses your resources wisely. These fundraisers are somewhat labor intense, but your organization has an already established team, ready, willing and able to work together for a cause that is meaningful to them.

All successful fundraisers need to be well organized and publicized. The greater community needs to know what your organization’s goals are and how the funds will be uses. Donors want to feel good about the organization they support. Even before fundraising efforts begin, become active in the community. Become a positive, active, part of your community that people will be proud to support.

Posted in Fundraising

Ask A Youth Football Parent- Benefits of Playing The Game Young

Feb21
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

We asked the parents of Youth Football Online All-Star Amir Bankhead two questions about involving their under 10 year old son in youth football. Here are the responses:

What do you believe are the benefits of involving Amir in football at an early age?

We believe that getting Amir involved in youth football at an early age has been of great benefit. His involvement with youth football has played a tremendous role in his development as a young man. We believe that football, through the discipline that it requires has giving Amir a head start on developing the qualities that are needed to be a significant contributor to society as an adult. Football teaches (to name a few things) the importance of academic excellence (which is needed to compete and advance at the youth level all the way through to the collegiate level), accountability, responsibility, teamwork, self discipline, self confidence, resiliency, sportsmanship, integrity, dignity, self respect, respect of others, the lesson that (You Get Out of Life ,What You Put Into It) as well as the importance of proper nutrition and proper exercise. We have witnessed all of these qualities which are already taught in our household being reinforced in our son since his introduction to youth football.

amir bankhead youth football

Do you believe safety in youth football is improving?

We believe that youth football safety is improving and advancing greatly. Just look at the advancement of the equipment that is available now or the emphasis that has been put on safety and proper technique training throughout the country.Remember, these are our children participating in this sport and as parents of youth football players their health, well-being and development are our priorities. Rather than eliminating youth football, it should be made accessible to the whole country at no cost. Then we will see our youth become more successful, proud and active as opposed to being involved with gangs, drugs, dropping out of school and becoming slaves to the newest electronic gadgets or video gaming systems.

Check out the video, you’ll see why we name Amir Bankhead one of the best under 10 year olds we’ve ever seen-

Posted in From the Gut, Guest Blogs, Parents, YFO All-Stars, Youth Football Benefits

Response to NY Assemblyman Michael Benedetto’s Legislation to Ban Youth Football

Feb17
2013 6 Comments Written by Youth Football Online

You may have recently heard about the proposed legislation by New York Assemblyman Michael Benedetto to ban football for children under age 11. Concussion risk and safety of the game have spurred this action.

We would like the Assemblyman to understand the following-

It’s imperative that kids learn the fundamentals of the game at an early age so when they’re older they’ll understand how to play football the correct way.

Youth football, while not a perfect sport, is becoming safer for kids each day that passes. Coaches are getting better informed via the numerous resources now available to them, youth football organizations are adjusting their rules for safer play and technology is advancing equipment. The evolution of youth football is occurring at a faster pace because of all of the media attention around the safety of the game.

Assemblyman Benedetto, you say you want to protect children, what will these kids do if they don’t have football in their lives? The structure that football provides is unprecedented. Kids have a responsibility to attend practices, learn plays and eat sensibly before play (or they’ll get sick). Concerned about their well-being? With childhood obesity rampant in your borough, Bronx, NY (considered the unhealthiest county in NY) kids especially need physical fitness and discipline. Instead of banning youth football for children- ban all the McDonalds in your district from serving poor quality foods.

Furthermore, if you really want to make a statement create legislation to ban youth football coaches that aren’t teaching safe practices. And while you’re at it… propose a ban on the NFL for the numerous illegal hits that are performed each season (which kids undoubtedly learn from). I may just support you on all of these legislations.

When a parent makes the decision to have their child play football, a simple risk vs. reward calculation is made. Does the reward of playing the sport outweigh the risk (of injury)? It certainly does. Youth football is unique in that it intermingles valuable life lessons- a package of discipline, toughness, teamwork and more. In this sport, if you don’t work as a strict unit, you can not accomplish a successful play. Each snap is operated like a well oiled machine- a systematic process that you will not find in any other sport.

Assemblyman, I would like to introduce you to our YFO All Stars. These are kids from across the country that benefit greatly from playing football in all aspects of their young lives. They credit youth football for providing them good grades (because poor grades means they can not play), friendship circles, respect, discipline and more.

Do you know what’s more dangerous than playing youth football? A kid that is in an unstructured environment in 2013.

What are your thoughts, agree or disagree on this open letter to Assemblyman Benedetto? Please comment below and let us know!

youth football online

Posted in From the Gut, News

Youth Football Online Selects YFO All-Star RB/CB Amir Bankhead

Jan20
2013 1 Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Amir Bankhead

Position: RB, CB

Age: 9

Offense: I formation

Defense: 43

Favorite Offensive Play: I Formation 38 Toss

Favorite Aspect of Playing Youth Football: Tackling, Blocking, and Catching

Favorite NFL Player: Adrian Peterson

Favorite Food: Steak, Baked Potato, Salad

Favorite Class: Math

Youth Football Online announces the selection of Amir Bankhead to the YFO All-Star team. We first learned of Amir Bankhead at the Youth Football Online Facebook page, as he impressed us with his following post:

amir bankhead football

Amir has an enormous amount of football knowledge for his young age and works extremely hard during the offseason to get better. He is a top tier student, carrying a 3.5 GPA and he continuously earns student of the month awards. Football teaches young Amir to prepare, and he does- he reads and does extra work to stay on top of studies.

We were impressed with Amir’s respectful responses during our interview- after each question by us was a sincere ‘thank you sir’. This is a soft spoken and gracious kid- though one thing is for certain- Amir’s play on the football field speaks volumes.

Defense

Amir is one of the best tackling youth football players I have ever seen. He is also fundamentally sound as a blocker. This kid tackles consistently with great form. He isn’t the biggest player on the field but he hits like a ton of bricks, and that’s no exaggeration. He tackles with his shoulder pads while keeping his head up. He wraps up and drives his body through the ball carrier. Amir’s tackling ability is remarkable, he is a sure tackler to the fullest extent.

Amir is super aggressive as well. He is able to read the play and fly up and make a tackle. He has a non-stop motor, he never gives up on the play. If you watch Amir’s defensive highlights below you will see the effort this kid plays with. You cannot get to the ball carrier unless you are able to get off blocks. Amir does a fantastic job of getting off blocks and making tackles. He does not allow players to block him. He does a great job of using his hands and athleticism to beat blocks.

Amir also has great pass coverage. He is a smart kid that can recognize the pass and break a pass up or hit the receiver jolting the ball out. He plays great man to man coverage and is able to tackle consistently in space (open field). He does a great job of tracking the ball when it is in the air. His athleticism, smarts, effort, and aggressiveness makes Amir an overall great defender. Why teams even run or pass to his side blows my mind. When you have such a dominating defender you are better off going the other way.

Defensive Video Highlights:

Offense

bankhead yfo all star

Amir is an explosive running back. He has great athleticism and goes hard on every play. He has great explosion out of his cuts. Amir plays down hill and has great vision; he cuts off blocks really well. Amir’s great physical ability makes him really tough to tackle out in space. Amir always has his motor going full speed at all times. He does an excellent job of running through tackles and not stopping his feet on contact. Again, Amir is not the biggest kid on the field but he runs with great effort, attitude and toughness. He is also catches the ball consistently, he is an all around youth football running back.

Offensive Video Highlights:

Special Teams

Amir is also a lights kickoff returner. He is able to field the kick and make plays in the open field. There was not many high lights of his kick returns because teams kept it away from him. He is a dominating returner and every time Amir gets the ball in his hands it can go for six.

Amir Bankhead also plays basketball, soccer, baseball, and runs track to keep busy and stay in football shape.

Amir’s Training Regimen

Run up tall hills
Train using a parachute
Use a sled to train

We asked Amir if he had advice for other youth football athletes-his response: ’Always go hard and play as a team’.

YFO: If you had one super power, what would it be?

Amir Bankhead: I’d have super speed, because speed is power!

‘Youth Football Online made an excellent choice in choosing Amir Bankhead as a YFO All-Star. He has humbleness that draws you in. This kid is an exemplary youth scholar athlete. His knowledge of the football is remarkable for a kid his age- he’s head and shoulders above the rest.’ - AAU Football League President Ron Bellamy

Amir is a talented football player and a dominant honor roll student. Outer space is the limit for this youth football athlete. We are proud to have him and his family as a part of our team.

yfo amir all star

Posted in YFO All-Stars

Youth Football Online Selects All-Star QB Shane Steinlauf

Dec30
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Name: Shane Steinlauf

Position: QB

Favorite NFL Players: Tim Tebow / Andrew Luck

Favorite NFL Team: New York Jets

Favorite College Team: Stanford University

Favorite Classes: Music, Spanish

Favorite Books: ’Wonder’ by R.J Palacio and ‘The Hobbit’ by J.R Tolkien

Football Offense: Spread Offense

shane steinlauf yfo all star

Youth Football Online selects Shane Steinlauf as YFO All-Star. Shane demonstrates leadership abilities at the quarterback position in youth football, in the classroom and in his community. He is the first YFO All-Star selection from New York City.

At the quarterback position, Shane is a very accurate thrower. He is consistently accurate because he throws the ball with perfect form. He is able to throw all kinds of passing patterns with great touch. Also of note is Shane’s demonstration of excellent footwork and quick release. After further evaluation of Shane’s game film I notice that he throws the football on the run well. He is able to roll out to both the right and left with great effectiveness. When rolling out, Shane also does a good job of either getting rid of the football or using his athleticism to gain yardage with his legs. We asked Shane- what is the most important aspects of playing quarterback? Shane replied- ‘Be accurate, get out of trouble, and see the field.’

qb shane steinlauf qb

Having a consistent work ethic is a main contributing factor to obtaining success playing youth football. Shane Steinlauf diligently works hard in the off-season to be the very best he can be on the football field. He works with QB guru Todd Krueger (read our interview with QB coach Todd Krueger) on all aspects of playing quarterback. Aside from his training with Coach Krueger, Shane received personal training from his football coach after his first and second years of playing tackle football. He is now receiving training from highly regarded trainer Rudys Santana and, more recently, he started training at Velocity Sports Performance in NYC. He also throws with his father a few times during the week for practice. He works on throwing completions, accuracy and improving his footwork. Shane is always striving to get better.

YFO: What makes a great football player?

Shane Steinlauf: Drive to work hard in practice, do whatever it takes, be mentally strong and have a little heart – if you get knocked down, get back up again!

Shane is not just a solid QB, but he is also a great leader. He did a great job of leading his inexperienced team to a competitive season in 2012. Shane is always positive with his teammates and always tries to pump them up. Shane is mentally tough as well (another benefit to playing youth football). He made us understand during the interview that he prides himself on leading the team and performing well under pressure. Shane emphasizes listening to get better every day.

‘Shane’s a model kid that’s shaping up to be a fantastic athlete. Shane has the educational advantage and he’s comfortable and confident playing quarterback. He has great form and fantastic feet!’ – Coach Edde Law

Shane offers a tip for other youth football players- ‘Play with heart and if something doesn’t go right, do not stop there, keep trying..’

What stood out most to us during our interview with Shane was how well he spoke. He is a smart kid that talks direct and with decisive intensity. He is also well mannered and his parents are great people. Shane has great support from his family which is undoubtedly helping his development.

Shane has achieved accomplishments within his community. He has participated in many community service events, including delivering meals to the elderly in NYC with his school and packaging meals with the Health and Humanitarian Foundation for starving families in Ghana. He has also traveled and volunteered in Memphis, Tennessee to help the indigent.

Shane’s proud dad, Dr. Adam Steinlauf, had final words to describe his son- ‘Shane keeps his wits, he has great poise..’. These are traits that will allow Shane to excel on the football field and in life.

Check out Shane Steinlauf highlight video:

Posted in YFO All-Stars - Tagged manhattan bandits, shane steinlauf

Youth Football Online Selects All-Star QB/LB Corbin LaFrance

Dec13
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Name: Corbin LaFrance

Age: 10

Position: QB/LB

Favorite College Football Team: Notre Dame

Favorite NFL Football Team: New Orleans Saints

Favorite NFL Player: Drew Brees

Favorite Food: Buffalo Wings

Offense: Pro-style

Defense: 4-3 Defense

Meet our newest Youth Football Online All-Star- Corbin LaFrance. Corbin is a bright, well-mannered child that is able to explain aspects of the game that many 10 year olds can not. A prime example of what makes up a YFO All-Star- we’re proud to include him into our exclusive program.

After spending time evaluating Corbin’s game film, it is apparent that he has great skills on the football field. Corbin plays quarterback on offense.What most stood out the most to us was his quick feet, quick release, and his accuracy. Corbin also did a great job feeling pressure, getting away from it and getting the ball out of his hands. One of his favorite plays is 21 Dive Bootleg. Corbin says, “ I like this play because allows me to fake to the running back and then bootleg to the opposite side. It will let me have a pass/ run option as well.” Corbin is a duel threat QB, he can beat you in the air and on the ground. This youth football player consistently demonstrates great leadership skills. He also possesses a positive attitude and knows how to pump his team up.

YFO asked Corbin- What makes a great football player? His humble response was: ‘My team makes me a great football player! My RB is great, my center snaps it great.’

Corbin was invited to the Offense-Defense All American Bowl. He was selected to the “Duel of the Dozens” QB competition. Corbin was also asked to attend the NUC Top 100 Youth Prospect Camp this past summer. Here is a look into his 2012 season stats:

10 Games played.

Touchdown Passes: 12 TDs, 1 interception.

Rush Touchdowns: 4 TDS.

Passing Yards: 1,100 yards.

Rush Yards: 400 yards.

For a 10 year old QB these are impressive numbers. His stats show his versatility at the QB position. Corbin’s favorite aspect of playing QB is having the freedom to call his own plays. He works very hard, all year long, throwing the football and staying active. He enjoys going to open practice with his dad .

“I’ve been coaching for 17 years and I haven’t had a quarterback, a 9 year old, like Corbin LaFrance. His education level is ridiculous! He’s a rare kid; very smart at what he does” - Coach Kedrick Williams

Corbin plays middle linebacker on defense. We talk much about his skills at QB, but he is also a very skilled defender. His favorite aspect of playing defense is getting sacks and tackling. His advanced football smarts allows him to read offenses and make plays. He is a tough hard-nosed defender. He loves the contact and does a decent job of getting off blocks and making tackles.

‘I live and breathe football’ - Corbin LaFrance

Here is some of Corbin’s defensive stats from the 2012 season:

Sacks: 8

Interception: 1- returned it for a touchdown.

Forced fumbles: 10

Those are some great defensive stats that really show his ability to play linebacker. Corbin is a complete nightmare at QB and middle linebacker.

His grades, similar to his performance on the football field, is nothing less but the best. Corbin has achieved a 4.0 GPA in an advanced school. He enjoys reading for fun, mentioning ‘Friday Night Lights’ a favorite read. He also enjoys humorous books.

“Quarterbacks, always work on your footwork” -Corbin’s youth football QB tip

This youth football player’s goal for next season is to win the league championship. He has already begun the preparation for next year. He prides himself on getting better every day. Corbin’s hobbies include baseball and basketball.

“I have a really good coach, he lets me run the shotgun.. it’s a lot of fun” -Corbin LaFrance

Posted in YFO All-Stars - Tagged corbin lafrance, quarterback, youth football

Youth Football Online All-Stars Selects Xavier Goldsmith

Dec01
2012 2 Comments Written by Youth Football Online

Name: Xavier Goldsmith

Nickname: ‘Weapon X’

Position: CB/RB/ WR

Favorite NFL player: Darrelle Revis

Favorite College Team: Michigan State

Youth Football Offense: I Formation, Spread

Youth Football Defense: 4-4

Favorite Play: Wildcat-direct snap, and Counter

Benefits he reaps from playing youth football: Meet new people, learns to communicate with others, learns teamwork and work ethic

Favorite Food: Pizza

Meet Youth Football Online’s newest All-Star selection Xavier Goldsmith. Xavier is a gifted student athlete that plays multiple positions on offense and cornerback on defense. He lines up in the backfield as a RB and he will split out as a slot receiver. He is a very versatile youth football athlete that has great physical ability along with great hand-eye coordination and balance. Every time Xavier touches the ball he is a threat to take it for 6. While he may not be the biggest player on the field, he certainly plays the biggest.

‘Always going to be people that try to bring you down, even if you’re small- have a big heart.’ – Xavier Goldsmith

Xavier is a running back that runs the ball with great effort, attitude and toughness.

He hits the point of attack with great explosion and elusiveness. He consistently breaks arm tackles and does a great job running through all the contact- he is awesome to watch. I asked Xavier what is favorite aspect of playing running back? Xavier replied, ’getting the ball and trying to make something happen, try to create a big gain for my team’.

Xavier is an excellent receiver. His coaches do a solid job of implementing plays that utilize Xavier’s skills as an offensive playmaker. In the footage I analyzed, he would line up in the slot and work passing routes in space and use his explosive speed (5.3/40) to get separation from defenders. Xavier has excellent hands as well, this kid catches everything. What impressed me the most was Xavier’s knowledge of the game. There were several occurrences where his quarterback got flushed out of the pocket because of pressure. Consistently Xavier recognized that his QB was in trouble and broke off his route to aid his QB. There aren’t many youth football players that understand that they need to come back to the QB. Very impressive.

I also noted what a great job blocking Xavier does. If he doesn’t have the football in his hands, he’s knocking a guy down with a great block.

Xavier Goldsmith’s dominance doesn’t end on the offensive side of the ball. He is an outstanding cornerback. I asked Xavier what is his favorite aspect of playing defense? Xavier replied, “ Hitting and tackling people and just having fun”. He is a very aggressive defensive player- he has no problem coming up and playing the run. He also tackles really well in the box and in space. He tackles with great form and aggression. He plays defense with great emotion- he is always hyped up and ready to attack. What stood out to me was his hustle. He is full go every single play, aggressively gets off blockers. He will not allow the offensive players to block him. He is pretty deadly as kick and punt returner as well. Why a team would kick it anywhere near Xavier blows my mind. There is one play that stood out to me on his 2011 highlight film: Xavier aggressively bit on a QB keep were the QB first faked to a running back inside then the QB bounced it outside. Xavier bit on the play, but instead of putting his head down or giving up he ran the QB down and saved a touchdown. It was a great effort play that show great desire and determination to never quit on a play. This is a great example of effort and desire and I will use this clip and show my players. (4:40 check it out 2011 Highlights)

‘Kids are sitting home, I’m trying to get to the next level..’ -Xavier Goldsmith

Xavier’s talents aren’t limited to the football field, he’s also a great student. ‘Mom makes me read 30 minutes a day.. I read everything.’ said Xavier. His favorite subjects include social studies and history. The Goldsmith family understands the importance of studies; with sheer determination Xavier is able to maintain a 3.8 GPA.

Xavier’s 3 Tips For Youth Football Athletes

Got to have good grades
Be coachable
Be dedicated, work hard for it

’Xav is a kid with a chip on his shoulder. Every year he has to prove himself because he’s not the biggest, but his work ethic and his heart makes him the player he is. – Rashahn Goldsmith (Dad)

Congratulations and welcome to the Youth Football Online All-Star family.

Posted in YFO All-Stars - Tagged xavier goldsmith, youth football

Ask Coach Jeff – Questions and Answers

Oct27
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Around this time of year, we get a ton of questions from youth football coaches going into playoff/championship games. We’re going to feature some of the best coaches questions here with responses from Coach Jeff. Keep the questions coming in!

Question:

I am playing a very well coached team this week , they run single or empty back field very fast, very big. thinking about playing a 4×4 this week, any thoughts (they were pegged as winning our super bowl at the beggining of the season).

-Thanks, Coach P

Coach Jeff says:

When defending the single it is vital that your defensive alignment be proper. It is important that you adjust and shift your defense to match the unbalanced line that the single wing is known to use. Also, it is vital that your defensive linemen hold their gaps and do not get caught up in the motions and backfield deception. Also, you can key their offensive linemen, they will usually pull to playside.

Question:

This year we went 6-3 and lost last week in second round of the playoffs. Next year I will be coaching 4th graders (9-10 year olds). I ran a version of the wing t this year but I feel our offense was to predictable. I came across your youth football playbook for running the wing t and purchased it last week. I had a meeting with my coaches today and we all agree we are going to install your offense. However, I have a couple of question for you. Most defenses in our league line up in the gaps mainly the A gap and try to shoot the gap. I have been reading a lot about line splits so my question is will those 2 foot splints be to wide for 4th graders with someone lined up in the gaps? Also we are looking to run a no huddle and have our linemen in a two point stance. What are the negatives of them being in a two point stance?

-Coach S.

Coach Jeff says:

1. You can bring your line splits to 1 foot splits, or even foot to foot it doesn’t matter. I go 2 foot because it creates easier blocking angles and creates natural running lanes inside. When defense line up a player in each gap, just have all the linemen block down on the defender lined up in the O-Linemens inside gap.

2. You can have your OL into two point stances but the only issue with that is your OL will come up high allowing the defense a to get lower and get under your OL pad level. But, a two point stance is ok as long as your kids fire out. When doing no huddle make sure your offensive linemen get right into their stance.

Question:

Double Wing or Wing T? -Coach Sammy

Coach Jeff says:

I use wing t rocket series, every play is off of rocket motion. Why I like it is because rocket sweep is a great play to attack the defense out in space with. Make the defense tackle your athletes in space. Also, the motion is used to deceive the defense. Once the defense starts over playing the motion we hit them inside. The wing t also does a better job of spreading the defense out horizontally. Plus, the wing t is 100% more deceptive. In the double wing you have all 11 players crammed in with zero line splits. This is going to allow the defense to put everyone in the box. You will have to block 10-11 man fronts every down. Power toss and sweep series never really give us a problem, we just squeeze down and have tough players in 7 techniques-this will spill the play outside and where their pulling blockers aren’t. The double wing is very key friendly-linemen pull to the side they are running too, not many key breakers.

Although, the wedge play and play action passing from the double wing is lights out. Wedge is a nightmare and you can have some false pulls (key breakers) to suck some defenders up and then hit them with play action. I feel the wing t is an overall better series of plays-it offers- speed, power and deception. The implementation of the wing t jet and rocket motions series really takes the wing t to a new level. Double wing is a power offense to the fullest extent. It just tries to get more blockers at the point of attack then the defense. Follow keys cross keys for outside linebackers, defensive linemen squeeze down, cut down double teams, and spill the play outside to your contain players, that is the way to defend it. Defensive line penetration is key!

Posted in Coaching Offense, Double Wing, General Coaching Tips, Wing T - Tagged double wing, line splits, Wing T, youth football help

Coach, Get Organized and Get Ready!

Jul26
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

As we embark upon a new youth football season- here are some tips you should follow to get prepared for the challenge of coaching. Here’s 6 tips to get yourself ready to go!

Organization is important. Create a work area in your home that’s just for coaching- have your whiteboard, laptop, scouting notes, dated game football and all coaching material neatly situated here. Label and date everything.
Find the right playbook. If you’ve been running the I-formation for years with little success, maybe it’s time to explore a new offense. Exploring various offensive or defensive schemes just may be the answer.
Create a letter for parents, a set of rules they must adhere to. All topics should be covered in this letter such as getting their child to practice on time, hydration and nutrition tips and game day respect rules. Let them know what you expect from them and conversely what they can expect from you.
Prioritize football/family/friend time now. Coaching youth football is a challenging duty, make sure you never lose site of what’s important in your life and that’s your friends and family.
Follow Youth Football Online throughout the season for coaching tips, drills and much more. Have a question about coaching? Contact us.
Keep a positive attitude, it’ll rub off on everyone.

Coaching youth sports is one of the most rewarding things you can do- good luck!

Posted in From the Gut, General Coaching Tips, Parents

Youth Football Online All Star Selection –RB/WR/DB Noah Lopez

Jul12
2012 2 Comments Written by Youth Football Online

Name: Noah Lopez

Age: 12

GPA: 3.8 (his goal is to get a 4.0)

Favorite Book: The Outsiders

Position: Athlete

League: Long Beach Browns

Favorite NFL player: Darrelle Revis

Favorite College Team: Oregon Bucks

Youth Football Offense: Spread/ I Formation

Youth Football Defense: Cover 1, Cover 2

Favorite Play: 24 Lead-Gets behind the fullback’s lead blocks

Meet our newest Youth Football Online All-Star selection- Noah Lopez. Every time Noah carries the football he has the potential to go for six points. After watching game film it was clear that Noah was the best athlete on the field. With Noah’s exceptional speed he is able to out run every defender on the field at any given time. It has to be frustrating playing defense against Noah- even when the defense does a nice job containing him, Noah has the ability to make something out of nothing.

” While other kids are home playing video games and watching TV I am working out.” -Noah Lopez.

Noah is a smaller running back that plays really big. This kid is one of the smaller kids on the field, but he is also the most aggressive and toughest kids on the field. This kid runs the ball with confidence and attitude. On several instances on the game film Noah was breaking multiple tackles each play. It took multiple defenders to bring him down. From his interview we learned that Noah loves pounding the ball- he’ll either run you over or jook you- it’s a decision he makes. He is very strong for his size. He can kill the defense with his speed and agility outside or he can pound the ball inside. He is a dual threat running back. He is also a stellar wide receiver. He has great hands, speed and route running. For the teams that have to play this kid each season, good luck!

Noah is not the biggest kid on his defense, but he hits the biggest by far. Noah had 6 interceptions last year (I guess defenses just don’t learn to stay away from his side). He is similar to a little rocket, he hits anything that comes near him. Any wide receiver Noah is covering is pretty much taken out of the game. He is a ball hawk! He finds the ball and plays the ball in the air better than any youth football cornerback I have ever seen. Noah is also a tackling machine. This kid flies up from his corner spot and tackles with great technique and aggression. He does a excellent job of getting off blocks and making tackles. He is also the best open field tackler I have ever seen at the 12 year old level, his tackling is on the elite level.

We asked Noah what advice he’d give other kids -

1- No matter what anyone says, stay focused.

2- If you’re struggling in school, get a tutor.

3- Keep working hard, never give up, success will come!

Noah’s dad Tony stressed it’s all about sports and education for Noah.

“Noah is an unbelievable kid, as far as understanding the game, he’s advanced. Hard work ethic, he gets right in there with the high school kids. Great kid on and off the field. He understands corner and safety, great quickness, his strongest point is his footwork, especially for his age. He is well beyond his years.. he’s a scholar athlete.” Noah’s coach, Coach Doc.

My favorite aspect of Noah’s game is his hustle. Noah has one gear and that is Go! He is always playing hard until the whistle blows. Noah is always trying to get better. He attends football camps regularly and does track to stay in shape.

“I work hard in what I do and have a passion for it, and I always listen to my parents.” -Noah Lopez

Video:

Posted in YFO All-Stars - Tagged all-star, noah lopez, youth football

Review of Junior Rank Diamond Football Camp in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jun18
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Youth Football Online visited Junior Rank’s Diamond Flight Youth Football Camp in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this past weekend. It was a perfect 75 degree June day, with the sun slyly hiding behind the clouds, peaking out at the right moments. This is YFO’s second visit to a Junior Rank football camp, the first was Junior Rank Diamond Football Camp in Phoenix Arizona. This camp did not disappoint at all and Philadelphia lived up to its nickname as the city of brotherly love.

Vin, VP of Junior Rank Bret Cooper and Jeff

The Football

The Junior Rank coaches were on point! They were very organized, very knowledgeable, and well experienced. There isn’t a better youth football camp in the country.

In case you weren’t aware.. Philadelphia is a serious football hotbed. There were some very talented athletes at this camp; straight out ballers. We had the opportunity to scout many of the kids during the individual position drills. Despite the large turnout, over 200 kids, the standouts were easily able to shine during these group drills.

The Junior Rank coaches really pushed these players during the individual periods. They paid great attention to detail and fundamentals. The coaches made sure all the football players learned the proper techniques so they can play the game successfully and most importantly safely. They drilled the fundamentals in these players head. They made sure all the players understood what they were teaching and made them do it again until the player got the drill right. What I like most about this camp is tempo. This is a football camp that is operated with great enthusiasm and passion. They keep the players focus by creating a fun, upbeat, and competitive environment. Junior Rank Football Camp is all about preaching hard work.

Beyond Football

The Junior Rank football camp is a great because they teach more than just football; they stress the importance of getting an education. They also stress the importance of having discipline (a major benefit learned from playing youth football) in the early growth years of a young man. Junior Rank brings in the US Marine Corps at each camp to operate the dynamic warm-ups. The Drill Instructors (DI) did a great job of setting the tone for the weekend. At this camp the Marines were even involved in some of the drills, of which the kids got a big kick out of. This camp is a great experience for any player that is trying to get better. They have expert coaches, some of the best in the country, for each position. The coaches really push these youth football athletes to get better each day. They did a great job working with kids that needed a little extra help with technique. If a kid made a mistake, he was asked to do it again until it was perfect. The coaches also did a great job of pumping these athletes up and making the experience fun and upbeat.

YFO All-Star Ta’Quan Roberson at the Junior Rank camp

Special thanks to Brett Cooper and the entire Junior Rank team for the incredible opportunity to cover the camp. Stay tuned for video, visit the Youth Football Online YouTube channel!

Posted in General Coaching Tips, On The Road, Youth Football Camps - Tagged junior rank, philadelphia football camp, youth football

Youth Football Online First Annual Charity Race at Monmouth Raceway, NJ

Jun18
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Youth Football Online would like to thank our team of organizers and sponsors for putting together an incredible fundraising event at Monmouth Park Raceway, New Jersey on June 16, 2012. We raised money for the YFO hardship fund, a fund created to help kids unable to afford the rising costs of league fees and youth football equipment.

Our Sponsors:

Rutgers University Football

Paul O’Dwyer, CPA and his wife Vilma, NJ

Begorragh Stables, LLC , Greenbrook, NJ

JT Hemhauser Home Improvement

Dorothy Hemhauser, Sales Representative at Weichert Realtors

Huge thanks to James Campion for all of his support and Fernando for all of the incredible photographs of the event.

Pictures of the event:

tree

At the Winners Circle

youth football hardship fund race

Winner of our grand prize, Rutgers home opener tickets.

Posted in From the Gut, Fundraising - Tagged youth sports fundraising

Youth Football Online Selects All-Star Ta’Quan Roberson

May11
2012 1 Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Name: Ta’Quan Roberson

Position: QB/ CB

League: Orange Hurricanes, New Jersey Twin Valley Youth Football

Favorite NFL player: DeSean Jackson

Favorite College Team: Oregon Ducks

Youth Football Offense: Spread

Youth Football Defense: 44

Favorite Play: Cowboy 6 Fade, QB Keep to the Right

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite Class: Math

Meet Youth Football Online’s All-Star selection Ta’Quan Roberson. Football intelligence and excellence in studies are characteristics that we look for and we found them with our latest All-Star selection.

Ta’Quan plays Quarterback with leadership. He is able to coordinate a no huddle offense with great success. He runs a spread offense with multiple wide receivers. He finds the open receiver consistently. Ta’Quan had 19 passing TDs last season, an impressive feat in youth football, he will strive to hit a goal of 20+ touchdowns this season. His team runs the no huddle, which allows them to call the right play each time. Ta’Quan is able to get the call from his coaches on the sideline and coordinates the play calls to his teammates. He is the first YFO All-Star to lead a no huddle offense. Ta’Quan is a smart kid that operates the no huddle flawlessly. I credit his coaches for having such an explosive well coached offensive attack.

While observing Ta’Quan’s game film, I noticed that he throws a really nice deep ball, one of the best I’ve ever seen. He consistently hits his receivers in stride. He has great arm strength, but he is also very accurate. Ta’Quan is able to throw any passing route on the field. He also does a nice job on play action passing plays- he really does a nice job faking hand-offs.

YFO: What is the most important point about playing youth football quarterback?

Ta’Quan Roberson: Using my head is important, be smart!

Ta’Quan is not only a great throwing QB- he is an overall great athlete. He is able to hurt the defense by running the football himself. He is a nightmare on roll out passing plays, he is able to run and throw the ball with accuracy. Ta’Quan runs the zone read play really well. He is able to read the defensive end, should the DE slant, he pulls the ball. If the defensive end sits he gives to the running back. It’s rare that an 11 year old QB is able to run a zone read play with consistent success. Ta’Quan can execute any offensive scheme.

“Ta’Quan is a very energetic, charismatic student that understands when it’s time to play and when it’s time to work. He is a leader in group activities and cares about his schoolwork. He is also one who enjoys his time at recess. Taquan is comical and mature and will be missed next year.” – Mrs. B., Ta’Quan’s teacher.

Ta’Quan understands the importance of his studies thanks to his father Michael’s discipline- ‘Homework is a main focus for him, I don’t even have to say anything’.

Congratulations Ta’Quan, continue to work hard and be the best student athlete you can be.

Posted in YFO All-Stars - Tagged New Jersey Twin Valley Youth Football, taquan roberson, youth football online all star

Youth Football Online Selects All-Star Jonathan Pollock

May02
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Name: Jonathan Pollock

League: Windermere Preparatory School

Team Name: Lakers

Position: RB, MLB, CB

Favorite NFL Player: DeSean Jackson

Favorite NFL Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Favorite College Team: USC Trojans

Offense: Spread

Defense: 4-3

Goals: To make Dr. Phillips varsity team

Favorite Food: Dad’s spaghetti and meatballs

Favorite Class: Art of Language Arts (Wants to a producer for the NFL network)

Hobbies: Weightlifting/ Attending Youth Football Camps / Hoops

Meet Youth Football Online All Star Selection Jonathan Pollock. Jonathan is a kid that’s very passionate about playing football. He described his football experiences in great detail, one thing is evident, this kid loves the game.

Jonathan is a superb athlete, a strong kid that can squat 400+ pounds and bench press 200+pounds. He has great speed (4.8, 40 time) and agility. After watching Jonathan’s game film it was obvious that this kid loves to play defense. He plays defense with strict aggression and technique. Jonathan plays corner back but hits like a middle linebacker. This kid is not only an awesome tackler but he’s also great in pass coverage. Jonathan can best be described as a ball hawk. He does a nice job of attacking the ball at its highest point. When he intercepts the football he has the ability to take it for 6 points. He plays the game with extraordinary energy and passion.

Jonathan is also an outstanding youth football running back. He runs with great attitude and has no problem lowering his shoulder and running through, or over, a defender.

“ Jonathan is a true football player. Jonathan also, is a great student of the game and is the hardest worker. His level of commitment is unmatched by his peers.” – Coach Jacob Doss

Jonathan’s personal trainer Michael Greene from No Limits Training has been working with Jonathan for the past 4 months. Michael talks about our newest All-Star’s work ethic - “it is rare to find young men Jonathan’s age willing to work as hard as possible to achieve their dreams. We have little doubt that he will achieve his goal of playing college football and any program that recruits him will have an outstanding young man with exceptional character on their roster, not to mention his athletic ability and intrinsic drive to be the best he can be while encouraging others to do the same”.

Jonathan’s Advice to fellow youth football athletes-

Work hard, keep your grades up.. if you don’t get the grades, the one thing you love (football) may be taken away from you. Work hard everyday, if you get injured, lay off it..

Jonathan was selected to play in the 2012 Junior Rank “Semper Fidelis”All American game. We asked Jonathan to describe his Junior Rank experience – “Loved it! Nice set up, we got to keep the helmets. The younger guys were partnered up with the seniors. I loved the coaching- I learned so much about the linebacker position in the few days I was there. I also made new friends all around the country that I still stay connected with. I could have done a little better in the game, but I was happy with my performance.”

President and CEO of Junior Rank, Shaon Berry, wrote to us regarding Jonathan- “The coaches at our Academic All-American game raved about his range and explosion. When you put those things together with excellent grades and strong manners, he will be a young man that I consider to be as close to can’t miss as they come.”

Jonathan runs track, lifts weights, and practices MMA to keep in shape. He trains for football all year round. Jonathan is a shinning example of how hard work pays off. Jonathan’s most recent accomplishment was winning the MVP award at the NUC Combine in Orlando, Florida.

Here are highlights of this talented football player:

Posted in YFO All-Stars - Tagged florida, jonathan pollock, junior rank, youth football all star

Youth Football Online All-Star Selects OL/DL/LB Caden Clark

Apr26
2012 1 Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Player Name: Caden Clark

Team: Massillon Tigers

Conference: Independent

Age: 10

Position: OL, DL & LB

Favorite NFL Player: Calvin Johnson

Favorite NFL Team: Detroit Lions

Favorite College Team: Ohio State Buckeyes

Future Goals: Attend Ohio State University and Play in the NFL

Offense: I formation & Shotgun

Defense: 4-3

Favorite Class: Music

Meet Youth Football Online All Star Selection Caden Clark. Excellence in character, studies and football define this youth football player. Caden joins his brother Danny Clark as the first YFO All-Star sibling duo. As we interviewed Caden and his dad, we collectively agreed that this kid is sharp; astute for his young age. He spoke with decisiveness and was very enthusiastic about football and his studies.

Caden Clark is a monster on the offensive line. He blocks with physicality and effort. He prides himself on being the best offensive linemen he can be. He blocks extremely well, and with solid technique. Caden has great size and power- he presents many problems for defensive linemen. Youth Football Running backs tend to get much of the attention, though it’s solid offensive line play that creates running opportunities. With Caden Clark blocking, you will always get positive yardage. If you are defensive linemen and you have to line up over Caden Clark – good luck!

“Caden knows the game so well for his age as he just retains everything very quickly. He is the biggest and fasted player on the field every game. He Could play any position. Very team Oriented. Team always comes first.” – Coach K.

Caden not only dominates on offense, he takes over a game on defense. Caden plays nose guard, defensive end, and linebacker. This is kid is unblockable. He is a big strong kid that plays with great effort. If you are an offensive linemen and you have Caden Clark in front of you, you are in for a long game.

“Caden, for a young person, has his priorities in order. He understands the value of his education; he applies the same ethic to his schoolwork as he does to football. He always wants to do something more – always strives to do better. Caden treats his classmates very well, a very kind and considerate person, a peacemaker. A very very special kid. I feel so fortunate to be able to teach him. When he does mess up, he’s able to admit that he was wrong. I’ve had some wonderful kids come through, but Caden is special. “ – Caden’s teacher Mrs. H.

Caden Clark is an avid reader. He told us about a current book on his reading list, ‘Rules’ by Cynthia Lord, a fictional story about a young girl’s relationship with her autistic brother. Caden’s love of reading is refreshing as reading is a lost interest in today’s internet and gaming generation.

Caden credits his dad with teaching him hard work ethic. He diligently practices everyday for the upcoming youth football season. Dad Jeff Clark says- “Older brother Danny gets all the attention but I’ve never had to say a single word to Caden, he is a flat out workhorse, more than any dad could ever dream for.”

Caden’s athletic talents are not limited to just football. He also excels playing basketball. He recently won a league championship game by hitting a buzzer beating shot. Caden lists music has a hobby, he has a passion for singing.

“From playing youth football, I’ve learned teamwork and how to work to achieve a goal. It’s also a lot of fun.” - Caden Clark

Here’s Caden’s highlight video:

Posted in YFO All-Stars - Tagged caden clark, massillon football, yfo allstar, youth football