Given the opportunity to learn from players with NFL experience and top high school coaches from around the country, two St. Anthony athletes took full advantage.
Sophomore Henry Sanchez and junior Lazaro Chavez set out to boost their game this summer at the USA Football Under-17 International Development Week, an invitation-only football competition held in Austin.
The seven-day event, which ended Thursday, hosted 130 high school football players from more than 20 states and a team from Sweden to develop and promote the sport through friendly competition and educational seminars.
Multiple NFL players and coaches assisted in running the camp, teaching classes or drilling athletes on the field. The young players also competed in 7-on-7 tournaments and simulated games, using the culmination of the week's instruction to assess their improvement as athletes.
?It's taught me to train harder and step up my tempo,? Chavez, a defensive back, said Thursday. ?I want to enhance my positional skills so that I'm a force to be reckoned with back at St. Anthony.?
The two San Antonio boys were selected from among thousands of nominees, earning a spot at the prestigious camp. Players were nominated either by their high school head coaches and by participating in national team trials held around the country.
Sanchez and Chavez will join the company of Nebraska running back Aaron Green, a former Madison standout, as area athletes who have competed within the USA Football organization.
For the two young football players, however, the development camp will bolster more than just their skills on the field. The publicity and clout attached to USA Football allows early access to the college football recruiting stage.
?The exposure from playing for Team USA will really help me in the future,? said Sanchez, a running back. ?Competing (here) grants me more opportunities later on.?
USA Football, the official partner of the NFL and the International Federation of American Football, focuses the camp around the four core values of safety, development, character and competition.
?This is an exciting opportunity for high school players to challenge themselves and to share in our game's timeless values,? USA Football executive director Scott Hallenbeck said. ?This week covers the intangibles that (have) earned the game a special place in our country and many others.?
jsullivan@express-news.net
nfl power rankings week 12 brine turkey brine turkey uc davis super committee walmart black friday ad 2011 nl mvp
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.