Football Drills and Football Coaching News

Today I received the following message from Borys Stepanenko via Facebook (emphasis done by me). They need equipment to be able to develop our great sport further in their country. So if you can help yourself, or know somebody who could, please try to help them. Thanks!

I’m the manager of Youth American Football Association (or YAFA) from Rivne, Ukraine. YAFA is the sport promoting organization, which unites Ukrainians interested in promoting and development American football and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Our target is keeping youth away from harmful effects of drugs and alcohol. YAFA was born 1 year ago. YAFA has American football team which called “RIVNE MONARCHS”. The MONARCHS’ history began in early 2005 when I and my friend Sergij Grytsak and some other enthusiasts decided to organize a football team. The first trainings began in early spring of 2005. To the first try-out came about 80 persons aged 19-27 years. But the lack of coaches’ experience and the lack of football equipment lead our team to diminishing players in trainings. So in autumn 2005 was second try-out but for the students of our schools.
In the winter of 2006 was the first flag-football tournament in Rivne. There were 4 teams in it. Every team consisted of 7 players aged 13-15 years. Adult players received first experience of judging flag-football and team management ( for every team was assigned adult player as the coordinator and coach).
After the summer holidays 2006 our team was stopped the trainings, because of absence of equipment and absence of permanent place for trainings.
In the early spring of 2009 was made the following try-out to the team. There were no trainings, but players were going to play tackle football every weekend (ofcourse without any helmets, shoulderpads and other equipment, as purchase of equipment in Ukraine is impossible, and order the equipment in the U.S. is very expensive for us, because the team is supported only by membership dues.)
In the autumn of 2009 Rivne MONARCHS began their trainings, which have part four times a week. In May 2010 we have made youth team. We have 30 persons in adult team and 40 persons in youth team. Some adult team members has rugby experience. Our team is ready to play tackle football, but we haven’t got equipment to start it. Rivne MONARCHS is rich only in players’ enthusiasm! Most players are students, some players have families and work. We haven’t got any sponsors, so our team is supported by membership dues to pay for sport gym, stadium and other…
In winter 2010 Rivne MONARCHS and other Ukrainian teams which has no equipment, have founded Ukrainian FLAG–FOOTBALL Championship 2010. It is the first flag-football Championship in our country. There are six teams which takes part in it: Rivne MONARCHS, Zhytomyr RAZORBACKS, Vinnitsya VOLVES, Dnipropetrovsk ROCKETS, Khmelnitsky BISONS and Vinnitsya GOPHERS. We have 12 games this year, and finished championship in the 5th place (2 wins-9 loses-1draw).
In Ukraine there are Ukrainian American Football Leage (1st leage). It consists of Eastern Division (Donets SCYTHIANS, Simferopol TAVRES, Sevastopol TITANS, Kharkiv ATLANTES) and Western Division (Uzhgorod LUMBERJACKS, Kyiv JETS, Kyiv SLAVS and team from Belarus – Minsk ZUBRS).
2nd leage presented by Odessa PIRATES, Dnipropetrovsk ROCKETS, Vinnitsya VOLVES, Lugansk TANKS, Donetsk Varangians.
In Ukraine it’s very big problem to buy any football equipment, so we need your help!
We don’t ask for money! We ask you for any used helmets, shoulderpads, even used pants & jerseys or some used footballs. If anyone can offer to us cheap equipment will buy it, or can someone donate us this equipment? We’ll be grateful for any help!!! If you can’t help with it, please help to find someone who can.
Please help for Ukraine to develop this great sport!!!
Here are our contacts: bobstepanenko(at)gmail.com and rivnemonarchs(at)mail.ru
This is our web-site: www.rivnemonarchs.rv.ua

P.S Sorry for my bad english

Most of us can’t even imagine what obstacles they have to overcome and what dedication it takes to play a foreign sport in your country where it’s even a problem to get just the absolute basic gear – even balls are a problem. So again if you are able to help, do so, if not please at least spread the word.

Remember when I posted the information about 49ers Headcoach of Strength & Conditioning and his Teleseminar and his Strength&Conditioning Program for all Levels?

Well, here’s a Video where he and Frank Gore are actually doing one part of the Program (Hill Running) and talking about it…

If you’re interested in learning more about the whole program from Coach Carlisle, check it out here

The NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell are urging players to add more pads – some (especially Defensive Backs, Wide Receivers and Linebackers) stripped their padding down to helmet and shoulderpads only sacrificing their own safety to get an edge in speed and flexibility. So the League is asking the players to wear more protective pads – especially knee, thigh and hip-pads this preseason and is thinking about making them mandatory in 2011.

The NFL-Players, being role-models for all young football-players, should set an safety example for the high-school and college level.

My personal opinion: Yes, I thinks that was long overdue – especially because of the role-model-effect. Always having to tell kids that it’s not cool not to wear pads is very tiresome…

What do you think?