Youth Programs

Youth Football

Detroit Lions/Ford Field organization introduces the Detroit Lions Youth Football Initiative, a state-wide venture designed for the positive development of the lives of Michigan's youth through the sport of football.

Summer Football Camps

The Detroit Lions will conduct a minimum of 9 Youth Football Camps around the state of Michigan during the summer of 2010. Boys & girls ages 6-14 are eligible for participation. Detroit Lions Youth Football Camps are non-contact, fundamental football camps designed to improve a child's beginning, intermediate, or advanced skill level. Fundamentals of all positions on offense, defense and special teams will be taught in addition to life skills such as teamwork, communication, sportsmanship and the importance of education. Participants will be grouped based on age and skill level. For information on 2010 Detroit Lions Summer Youth Football Camps, please provide your name, mailing address, and phone number. You may e-mail information to Chris Fritzsching, Director of Youth Football, at cfritzsching@detroitlions.com.

Educational School Assemblies

In the 6th year of its’ exciting character education initiative, "Lions Leaders for Life" program discusses the importance of developing leadership qualities in school, in the community, at home, and on the playing field; in other words, helping children develop leadership qualities for life.  Leadership qualities acquired in one setting often transcend into other scenarios and are stepping stones to a child becoming more positive, confident, and successful. The objective of the program is to utilize football as an avenue to convey these life-skills in a fun and educational forum. Assemblies are held September-April of each school year and are conducted by Chris Fritzsching, Director of Youth Football, and Roary, the Lions Mascot. For more information, please call (313) 262-2248 or e-mail at cfritzsching@detroitlions.com.

Year-Round Youth Football Fundamentals Clinics

Detroit Lions Youth Football Clinics have been created to provide fundamental football education on quarterback and wide receiver play. Clinics can be conducted on a year-round basis for your youth football organization, parks & recreation department, community service group, fitness facility or health club. These 90 minute clinics provide a good foundation of two of the most exciting positions in football: quarterback and wide receiver. Boys & girls ages 6-14 are eligible to participate.

Attend a Detroit Lions Youth Football Coaches Clinic, conducted specifically for your youth football organization in your community!

Members of the Detroit Lions Youth Football staff will conduct three 50-minute fundamental position clinics designed for a youth football coaching staff! Position qualities, drills, techniques and more will be taught position-by-position! Clinic includes handouts, outlines, and most importantly, fun learning the game of football!

Topics to choose from:

Offense:	Defense:
Fundamentals of Wide Receiver Play	Fundamentals of Defensive Line Play
Fundamentals of Running Back Play	Fundamentals of Linebacker Play
Fundamentals of Quarterback Play	Fundamentals of Defensive Back Play
Fundamentals of Offensive Line Play

Misc Topics:

Practice and Program Organization

Basic Special Teams Concepts

For more information on Detroit Lions Youth Football Coaches Clinics, please call (313) 262-2248 or e-mail at cfritzsching@detroitlions.com.

Take your game to the next level!  Sign up for Detroit Lions Skill Development Sessions (SDS)!  Conducted by Chris Fritzsching, Director of Detroit Lions Youth Football, these one-hour sessions include detailed, one-on-one, position-specific instruction at the position of your choice and video analysis. Video analysis will allow for individual evaluation and comparison to other football players, which will aid in the overall development of the participant.  Participants will receive a DVD of their SDS for future evaluation.

SDS are conducted year-round for children ages 6-18 at a location to be mutually agreed upon.  Inquire about the possibility of conducting your SDS at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions!

For more information on rates and availability or to reserve your Detroit Lions Skill Development Session, please call (313) 262-2248 or e-mail cfritzsching@detroitlions.com.

Sign your youth football team up to play at Ford Field during halftime of a Detroit Lions game! Your 7, 8, 9 or 10 year old team will be fully padded and scrimmage another youth football team of the same age and weight in front of 65,000 fans! Typically 2 to 5 Halftime Youth Football games are conducted each Detroit Lions season. Game dates are selected in May. Teams are selected during June each year.

Following is the 2009 Halftime Youth Football Game Schedule:

September 27, 2009	Lake Fenton Blue Devils vs. Union City Chargers Cros-Lex Pioneers vs. Newaygo Jr. Football
October 11, 2009	Hastings Saxon's Gold vs. Fremont Jr. Packers Lakeland Broncos vs. Whitehall Lil’ Vikes
November 1, 2009	Beach Stallions vs. Bedford T-Birds Columbus Lions vs. Owosso Trojans

For more information on how your youth football team can play at halftime, please call (313) 262-2248 or e-mail cfritzsching@detroitlions.com.

For information on future Detroit Lions High School Football 7 on 7 Passing Tournaments at Ford Field, please contact Chris Fritzsching via e-mail at cfritzsching@detroitlions.com. Information on the 2010 Detroit Lions High School Football 7 on 7 Passing Tournaments at Ford Field will be available in March 2010.

The Detroit Lions Youth Football Forum, which kicked off in February 2005, is designed to discuss issues critical to the day to day operation of youth football conferences, organizations, and teams.  The purpose of the Youth Football Forum is to allow for discussion of key topics, meet new league representatives and share innovative ideas with the hope of gathering new programs, concepts and rules for the betterment of the youth football experience.

The Youth Football Forum consists of 39 representatives from 25 different leagues around the state of Michigan. These particular leagues represent over 51,000 children participating in youth football.

Mission Statement: "The Detroit Lions Youth Football Forum is a representation of leaders within Michigan's youth football community that meet regularly to discuss and exchange information for the betterment of the youth football experience for participants, coaches, parents, and fans. Our mission is to help make the youth football experience educational, inspirational, competitive, and most importantly, fun for all involved."

For more information on how you can become a part of the Detroit Lions Youth Football Forum, please call (313) 262-2248 or e-mail at cfritzsching@detroitlions.com.

For more information on how to book a Detroit Lions Youth Football Program for your community or for more information, please contact:

Chris Fritzsching
Director of Youth Football
(313) 262-2248
cfritzsching@detroitlions.com