The 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

• Watch a camp promo!

The Detroit Lions will conduct a minimum of 9 Youth Football Camps around the state of Michigan during the summer of 2009. 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 2009 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.

• Click here to register!

Detroit Lions Youth Football Camps 2009

Youth Football Programs at MVP Sports Clubs in West Michigan

Kids, thanks to a new partnership with the MVP Sports Spot in Kentwood and the MVP Fieldhouse in Grand Rapids, Detroit Lions Youth Football will be providing new and exciting youth football programming for children ages 5-14 beginning this spring in West Michigan!

Detroit Lions Youth Football Academy
Boys and girls ages 5-8 can join us at the MVP Sports Spot for the Detroit Lions Youth Football Academy, a 6-week, non-contact program designed to teach the fundamentals of football to novice football players interested in learning the game. Each session will focus on teaching the fundamentals of one football position (3 offensive positions, 3 defensive positions in all). Each participant receives 6 hours of instruction, a Youth Football Academy t-shirt and Lions goodies.  The Detroit Lions Youth Football Academy is limited to the first 20 participants to register.

Tuesday
April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19	5:30-6:30 p.m.	Ages 5-6	$75
Wednesday
April 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20	5:30-6:30 p.m.	Ages 7-8	$75

Detroit Lions Quarterback-Wide Receiver Academy

Boys and girls ages 8-14 can join us at the MVP Fieldhouse for the Detroit Lions Quarterback-Wide Receiver Academy, a 2 day program designed to provide detailed quarterback and wide receiver instruction for participants of a beginning, intermediate, and advanced skill level. Fundamentals taught include stance, position-specific drills, throwing technique, route running and much more. Each participant receives 6 hours of instruction, a Quarterback-Wide Receiver Academy t-shirt and Lions goodies. The Detroit Lions Quarterback-Wide Receiver Academy is limited to the first 70 participants to register!

Saturday, August 1 & Sunday, August 2, 2009

9:00 a.m-12 noon

Ages 8-14

$75

To register for either the Youth Football Academy or the Quarterback-Wide Receiver Academy, please click here to download a registration form or call (313) 262-2248 to register by phone.

Educational School Assemblies

Exciting, interactive 45 minute elementary school assemblies will address topics critical to today’s youth. The latest school assembly program, “Lions L.E.A.D.ers for Life” (Leadership, Educational, and Athletic Development), is designed to discuss the development of character, academic, and athletic values through goal setting. 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.

Detroit Lions Coaching Academy

The Detroit Lions and the Detroit Lions Youth Football Department have embarked on an exciting football education program aimed at elevating the quality of coaching at the youth, middle and high school levels across the state of Michigan.

For more information on the Detroit Lions Coaching Academy 2009, please call (313) 262-2248 or e-mail at cfritzsching@detroitlions.com.

Skill Development Sessions
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 and Super Bowl XL!

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.

Halftime Youth Football Games

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 during June & July.  Teams are selected during August each year.

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

High School Football 7-on-7 Passing Tournaments

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.

Youth Football Forum

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