Article Contributed on: 7/28/2009 8:25:45 PM
Over twenty members of the Denver East High School football team contributed to their community in a big way on July 24 and 25. The young men volunteered as coaches and mentors at the fourth annual Athletics and Beyond youth football clinic. Members of the team were asked to contribute one day of their weekend, impressively, about 90% of the team returned to help the second day.
The Athletics and Beyond clinic provided approximately 35 participants, ages 7-14, with the opportunity to learn real game play in a safe and positive environment. Clinic participants, primarily from the Montbello Falcons, Park Hill Falcons, Aurora Crush, and Broomfield Blitz, also had the opportunity to see the East Varsity team in a 7-on-7 scrimmage against the Lampkin Group Center for Boys under the lights on Friday night.
Eleven-year-old Jervae Robinson said, "I liked what the coaches taught us about alignments and gaps. If you have better gap control, that makes you a better team and you win games."
Broomfield Blitz tackle Andrew Drennen said, "I like how the referees explained all of the rules to us so we could understand better. And I liked the drills and learning to hit better."
East freshman Kadeem Hendrix-Wilcox said, "It was fun helping the little kids get a little better over those two days."
The clinic was facilitated by Denver East Head Coach Ron Woolfork, a former CU linebacker and two-time first-team All-Big 8 performer. Woolfork was also CU's second-leading sacker (33) and tackles-for-losses (53 total). He was assisted by East's defensive backs Coach Rob, conditioning and linebacker coach Coach Smitty, and also East Offensive Line Coach Al and Broomfield Dawgs, Semi Pro Football Coach Joel.
Special guests at the clinic included Athletics and Beyond student and NCAA student athlete, Oregon Ducks receiver, Drew Davis, University of Colorado Buffalos receiver, DeVaughn Thornton, and University of Colorado Buffalos all purpose back, Quentin Hildreth. Referees and NCAA officials Matt, Jesus and Brad officiated at the scrimmage, and also helped teach proper technique on both Friday night and Saturday. Professional football official Terrance Myles, a graduate of East High School, also volunteered at the clinic.
Athletics and Beyond was founded in 2005 by East receivers coach Jackson and his brother Ali. The organization, focused on serving urban youth, desires to:
• Promote the development of sports skills and knowledge by teaching proper technique, form, and discipline.
• Emphasize the importance of education and academic success.
• Encourage the development of sportsmanship, positive attitudes, respect for self and others, perseverance and determination.
• Provide exposure to positive adult role models in professional sports, and also exposure to positive high school role models
• Provide participants with opportunities to explore sports-related careers both on and off the field.
In keeping with those goals, clinic participants saw a presentation on nutrition, by Carlos Aviles from H.A.R.D. Nutrition. H.A. R. D. Nutrition also donated more than one thousand dollars worth of healthy food and drinks for the clinic. Children's Hospital Dental clinicians Grace Turner, Mauro Acosta and Sharon Coleman did a presentation on dental hygiene and safety for athletes, and donated one hundred mouthpieces. Other clinic sponsors included Chick-Fil-A, who generously donated one hundred sandwiches Friday evening, and Martin Paralegal Services.
For information about our program visit us at www.athleticsandbeyond.com