VooDoo Inspires Young Teens
Published on October 16, 2013 under Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
NEW ORLEANS (October 16, 2013) - The New Orleans VooDoo visited Langston Hughes Academy through the Victories in Service Program Tuesday afternoon.
Victories In Service currently runs Victory Youth Training Academy after-school programs for children in kindergarten through third grade at two Firstline Schools, including Langston Hughes Academy and Samuel J. Green Charter School. They provide program participants with two additional hours of academic and physical fitness training four days a week and five weeks of summer programming that runs five days a week for six hours a day.
Victories In Service uses a method of coaching the youth that is high on structure, high on discipline and high on expectations. This tough love, no nonsense approach emphasizes hard work, self-control, focus, cleanliness, punctuality and non-violence between students.
VooDoo players used this opportunity to teach the kids proper football techniques and to emphasize the importance of staying in school.
"The Voodoo provided our athletes with the fundamentals at the wide receiver position and defense," said Coach Melvin Howard, Victories In Service. "They showed them how to block and get through the O line. The Voodoo's knowledge of the game was profound, and they really lifted up the coaching staff and players to a whole new level of understanding.
Coach Howard also touched on how the VooDoo players took it upon themselves to speak to the young athletes about life experiences.
"The VooDoo players had a couple of moments of real talk with our athletes," added Coach Howard. "One of our athletes is a 6' 3" wide receiver, age 13, who has problems focusing in school. The Voodoo players told him that he has the size and talent to go far in the game. The Voodoo players asked, are your grades right? Is your head right? Are you on the right path to go to college? You could see the wheels turning this young man's head. The Voodoo players made a big impact on our athletes."
VooDoo Defensive lineman Derandus Frye explained that even the short amount of time spent with these young athletes is valuable in his eyes.
"I love being out there with the kids," said Frye. "We are just guys that these kids can relate to. When they hear our stories coming from single parent households and becoming successful grown men, they believe they can do it too.
I try to make the kids understand that stereotypes are going to happen, but it's about what's on the inside and your personal drive to succeed."
To find out more information about Victories In Service visit www.facebook.com/victoriesinservice .
Arena Football League Stories from October 16, 2013
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- VooDoo Inspires Young Teens - New Orleans VooDoo
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