Xplorers Youth Football Camp Concludes With Plenty of Kick, Punch, Game
June 16, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
SOUTHAVEN, Miss.âAbout 20 boys came to the DeSoto Civic Center Saturday afternoon for the Xplorers Youth Football Camp, which gave them the opportunity for one-on-one instruction from players and coaches, included a special-edition T-shirt, autograph session and free ticket to that night's game. The Xplorers' next home game is July 5th against the Tennessee Valley Vipers at 7 p.m. at the DeSoto Civic Center. For tickets call (662) 280-3737 or go online at www.xplorersaf2.com and use the Ticketmaster link.
Michael Pacheco, 8, a small, shy, red-haired boy, hung toward the back of the line of boys listening to Xplorers OL/DL coach and special teams coordinator Lou Esposito during the Xplorers Youth Football Camp.
"On âgo,' I want you to hit the bag with both hands, palms out, like this," Esposito said. When it came time for Pacheco's turn, he pulled up a little short of the bag and pushed it slightly. "Michael, you're strong. You can hit it harder than that. Try again."
This time, Pacheco went from squatting position to push position with all the force his body could muster.
"Good job, Mike! Nice hit!" Esposito said, in his thick Brooklyn accent. A delighted smile lit up the boy's face. Esposito held out his hand for Pacheco to give him five, which Pacheco did with gusto.
"Tackling is my favorite part," Pacheco said after the clinic. "My brother always bugs me, but the next time he does it, I'm going to tackle him," he said gleefully.
Pacheco was one of 20 boys at the camp, from ages eight to 16. Coaches and players from the Xplorers arena football team gave two hours of instruction to the children Saturday on proper warm-up techniques, agility exercises, traditional defense, wide receiver and defensive back training, and quarterbacking and receiving.
At the quarterbacking and receiving portion of the clinic, offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Steve Matthews started by teaching the children how to hold and catch the ball, pairing each with a player who got down on one knee and positioned the boys' hands open, together at the wrists. On each boy's call of "Hutt," the player would sweep the football from the ground into their hands.
Matthews put each action into terms and word pictures the children could understand.
"When you get the snap, start the lawn mower, Rrrrrrr," Matthews said, stepping backward into a lunge position and drawing one hand from its position down and together at the wrist to upward behind him and over his head, as if pulling a lawnmower motor string. "Walk three steps back. Then imagine that a giant is spinning you like a top. It all starts in the shoulders and the hips."
The following steps were to "put the hatchet in the tree," in which the "hatchet" was the football, and bring the thumb of that hand from above the head to the opposite hip, releasing the ball in the process.
"It goes in that order: lawnmower, spin, hatchet, thumb," Matthews said, running backward and throwing the ball to a player.
"I remember when I was their age, I admired older athletes like so much," Xplorers player Sean Stellato (#7) said. "I appreciated even the littlest things they could teach me, like keep your chin up, work hard, don't quit. Those lessons have really stuck with me over the years. It was very beneficial.
"In this day and age, too, kids are so cruel to each other. They say things like, âyou're not good enough,' or âyou're too slow.' The encouragement those guys gave me in the clinics I went to as a kid helped me a lot. Plus if the kids learn this technique now, they'll be ahead of the game obviously, because you've got some real credible people here and players with experience."
At the end of the afternoon, the players put all the training together and divided the boys into two teams to run plays. Afterward, Xplorers head coach Danton Barto huddled the players and boys around.
"Every time we did something more than once, we got better, right?" Barto asked them. "It's always going to be that way. Every time you do something, whether it's running, catching, whatever, just say, âI'm going to do this the best I can or the fastest I'm able.' Do that every time."
Xplorers player Rod Robinson (#8) spoke next.
"I'm big on books, too," Robinson said. "It's just like he said. âDo this the best you can.' You can apply that to other things, too, like your school work."
After the huddle, the boys and players stood up in a circle and piled their hands on top of each other in the middle. With a cheer of "Xplorers!" the children broke up and ran to grab pens and items for the players to autograph.
"I remember when I was coming up, I didn't have any camps like this to go to," Xplorers player Johnny Loper (#3) said. "That the kids actually have something like this to attend, and they can interact with the players is just awesome. They'll remember this for the rest of their lives."
For more information on Xplorers programs, upcoming games or tickets call (662) 280-3737 or visit the Web at www.xplorersaf2.com.
JERSEY AUCTION RAISES NEARLY $2,400 FOR ST. JUDE
The Xplorers raised $2,380 Saturday for the children of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital during a jersey auction sponsored by Hollywood Casino after their game against the Birmingham Steeldogs.
"For a first-time event, it was a rousing success," Xplorers general manager Greg Griffith said. "We raised nearly $2,400 for one of the most credible charities in the Mid-South and the nation. We are very pleased."
The event included a visit to the hospital earlier in the week, during which players toured the hospital and spent time with St. Jude patients. The visit was designed to be a unique opportunity for team members to get a personal perspective on the impetus behind this Saturday night's jersey auction, sponsored by Hollywood Casino to benefit St. Jude patients.
Money raised from the auction helps offset the costs of research and treatment for children admitted to St. Jude with cancer or other catastrophic illnesses. Since opening in 1962, St. Jude has helped increase the cure rate for childhood cancer from less than 20 percent to more than 70 percent.
"As we continue our journey of supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, we are proud to be a sponsor of events such as the Xplorers Jersey Auction," said Jeff Strang, Vice President of Marketing for Hollywood Casino. "We appreciate the support of the Memphis Xplorers organization and their loyal fans in ensuring the success of our most recent St. Jude event."
ON THE AIR
Catch the Xplorers on the air this coming Saturday against the Louisville Fire on Y96.1 FM. Pre-game begins at 6:15 p.m. with the kickoff at 6:30 p.m.
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