July 22, 2019 at 08:24AM
GARDNER — Are you ready for some football? Next Generation Elite and the Chair City Lions football program certainly are.
On Saturday morning the two organizations put the finishing touches on a three-day youth football and cheerleading clinic held on the practice field adjacent to Gardner High School.
Close to 100 athletes braved the heat and humidity to participate in the clinic which focused on fundamental skills along with conditioning.
"What's a better way to get these kids conditioned and ready for the season?" asked NGE co-owner Jim Bennett, during a quick break on Saturday morning. "The feedback has been positive from players, coaches and parents. It's been hot but these kids have come out here and given it their best effort and that's what we want to see. We want these kids to love the game and have some fun while they improve their skills."
According to the Chair City Lions' website, the 2019 season, which officially begins on Monday with practices, is the Lions seventh season since the league's birth in 2013. The American Youth Football program was created by Ryan Laliberte and the late Gary Wojo with the intent to allow equal opportunities to all student athletes. In American Youth Football, unlike other youth football options, players are separated into teams based upon their age and not by their weight as there are no weight restrictions.
"It's a chance for the kids to come out and meet some of their coaches and also some of their teammates. That's a big reason why we like to have this preseason clinic. To have NGE come out and run it is excellent," said Chair City Lions president Chris DePaola. "The kids are getting some excellent instruction and coaching from a very knowledgeable staff. It's been a real positive experience."
Thirteen-year old Corey Henderson, a wide receiver and an outside linebacker for the Lions' eighth-grade squad, said the clinic had something to offer the younger athletes and the older kids such as himself.
"I think this is great, especially for the younger kids. It gives them an opportunity to do the drills and learn," said Henderson, a Gardner native. "For us older kids, I take it as a chance to really work on conditioning before the season starts."
For two-and-a-half hours on Thursday and Friday night and two more hours on Saturday morning, Bennett, NGE co-owner Bill Nash and staff worked with the gridiron youngsters in stations on fundamental skills specific to their positions through drill work.
"It's fun for the kids, to get out here and play some football before the season starts," said Nash. "Everyone is excited for the chance to try and get a jump on the season."
According to Bennett, many of the Chair City Lions players have been part of the NGE preseason workouts, attending classes and clinics at St. Bernard's Catholic High School in Fitchburg and The Clark Memorial YMCA in Winchendon.
"We've developed a real close connection with Chair City," said Bennett. "They are one of our leagues and we're proud to say that."
With the heat index hovering around 100 degrees Friday evening and Saturday morning, Bennett and Nash precautions were taken to keep the young athletes hydrated and safe in the scorching summer weather.
"With it being so hot we take everyone's safety very seriously," said Nash. "We don't want to see anyone get hurt so we work in extra water breaks, for players and coaches. We want to make sure everyone stays hydrated. We also have tents set up so if a player needs to get out of the sun he can go over under one of the tents."
In addition to football drills, the three-day clinic also afforded the Chair City Lions cheerleaders with the opportunity to come together prior to their season-opening practice on Monday.
"For the cheerleaders, the clinic is about trying to get friends involved and introduce them so the girls can see what it's all about and bring our numbers up," said Chair City Cheerleading director Scott Martini. "What we want to try to do is to begin teaching the basics of tumbling, jumps and cheers. It's a great opportunity to introduce before we start the season."
According to Martini, he estimated there are close to 50 girls participating in the Lions' cheerleading program with girls ranging from four-years old to 14-years old.
Following Saturday's action, the athletes were given an opportunity to beat the heat and have a little fun in the process thanks to the help of Fun Stuff Rentals in Fitchburg, which provided the campers with a pair of inflatable bounce houses and also a dunk tank to try and sink their favorite coaches.
GARDNER — Are you ready for some football? Next Generation Elite and the Chair City Lions football program certainly are.
On Saturday morning the two organizations put the finishing touches on a three-day youth football and cheerleading clinic held on the practice field adjacent to Gardner High School.
Close to 100 athletes braved the heat and humidity to participate in the clinic which focused on fundamental skills along with conditioning.
"What's a better way to get these kids conditioned and ready for the season?" asked NGE co-owner Jim Bennett, during a quick break on Saturday morning. "The feedback has been positive from players, coaches and parents. It's been hot but these kids have come out here and given it their best effort and that's what we want to see. We want these kids to love the game and have some fun while they improve their skills."
According to the Chair City Lions' website, the 2019 season, which officially begins on Monday with practices, is the Lions seventh season since the league's birth in 2013. The American Youth Football program was created by Ryan Laliberte and the late Gary Wojo with the intent to allow equal opportunities to all student athletes. In American Youth Football, unlike other youth football options, players are separated into teams based upon their age and not by their weight as there are no weight restrictions.
"It's a chance for the kids to come out and meet some of their coaches and also some of their teammates. That's a big reason why we like to have this preseason clinic. To have NGE come out and run it is excellent," said Chair City Lions president Chris DePaola. "The kids are getting some excellent instruction and coaching from a very knowledgeable staff. It's been a real positive experience."
Thirteen-year old Corey Henderson, a wide receiver and an outside linebacker for the Lions' eighth-grade squad, said the clinic had something to offer the younger athletes and the older kids such as himself.
"I think this is great, especially for the younger kids. It gives them an opportunity to do the drills and learn," said Henderson, a Gardner native. "For us older kids, I take it as a chance to really work on conditioning before the season starts."
For two-and-a-half hours on Thursday and Friday night and two more hours on Saturday morning, Bennett, NGE co-owner Bill Nash and staff worked with the gridiron youngsters in stations on fundamental skills specific to their positions through drill work.
"It's fun for the kids, to get out here and play some football before the season starts," said Nash. "Everyone is excited for the chance to try and get a jump on the season."
According to Bennett, many of the Chair City Lions players have been part of the NGE preseason workouts, attending classes and clinics at St. Bernard's Catholic High School in Fitchburg and The Clark Memorial YMCA in Winchendon.
"We've developed a real close connection with Chair City," said Bennett. "They are one of our leagues and we're proud to say that."
With the heat index hovering around 100 degrees Friday evening and Saturday morning, Bennett and Nash precautions were taken to keep the young athletes hydrated and safe in the scorching summer weather.
"With it being so hot we take everyone's safety very seriously," said Nash. "We don't want to see anyone get hurt so we work in extra water breaks, for players and coaches. We want to make sure everyone stays hydrated. We also have tents set up so if a player needs to get out of the sun he can go over under one of the tents."
In addition to football drills, the three-day clinic also afforded the Chair City Lions cheerleaders with the opportunity to come together prior to their season-opening practice on Monday.
"For the cheerleaders, the clinic is about trying to get friends involved and introduce them so the girls can see what it's all about and bring our numbers up," said Chair City Cheerleading director Scott Martini. "What we want to try to do is to begin teaching the basics of tumbling, jumps and cheers. It's a great opportunity to introduce before we start the season."
According to Martini, he estimated there are close to 50 girls participating in the Lions' cheerleading program with girls ranging from four-years old to 14-years old.
Following Saturday's action, the athletes were given an opportunity to beat the heat and have a little fun in the process thanks to the help of Fun Stuff Rentals in Fitchburg, which provided the campers with a pair of inflatable bounce houses and also a dunk tank to try and sink their favorite coaches.