May 21, 2010
Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THINK DETROIT PAL COACHES TO PARTICIPATE IN MARTIN MAYHEW’S YOUTH FOOTBALL COACHING ACADEMY
NINETY-SIX THINK DETROIT PAL FOOTBALL COACHES WILL PARTICIPATE AT FORD FIELD, JUNE 12; NFL HOF MEMBER DARRELL GREEN WILL BE SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER
 
DETROIT, Mich.—More than 90 youth football coaches from Think Detroit PAL will participate in Lions' general manager Martin Mayhew’s second Youth Football Coaching Academy, June 12, at Ford Field.  The academy, which is exclusive to Think Detroit PAL coaches, will feature in class and on the field instruction on defense from Lions’ alumni and college coaches from across the region.  Darrell Green, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and avid community supporter, will be the keynote speaker.

Think Detroit PAL football, among the largest after-school tackle football leagues in the nation, depends on hundreds of volunteer coaches each year to manage 24 football organizations.  More than 3,200 Detroit young people, ages 8-14, participate in the league each fall.  The Lions sponsor the league and again will host the Think Detroit PAL championships at Ford Field in November.

“Our coaches are excited and honored to again participate in the Martin Mayhew Youth Football Coaching Academy,” said Darnell Hall, assistant athletic director/trainer and commissioner of football for Think Detroit PAL.  “Last year, the academy was extremely helpful and an all-around great experience.  We are thankful for our wonderful partnership with the Lions and our champion, Martin Mayhew.”

The coaches will participate in classroom sessions in the morning focused on tackling techniques and the fundamentals of defensive positions.  Instructors will include John Lindley, linebacker coach at Hillsdale College, John Hauser, defensive coordinator at Wayne State University and Eli Rasheed, defensive line coach for the University of Toledo.  After lunch and a keynote presentation by Darrell Green, the coaches will participate in on-field drills with Lions’ alumni Scott Kowalkowski, Lem Barney and Luther Elliss.

 “I know the positive impact all of my coaches have had on my life and career, so I view this academy as a way to say ‘Thank You’ to all the youth coaches not only in Detroit but everywhere,” said Mayhew.  “These coaches have a profound and lasting impact on our children, so the opportunity to provide them with some additional teaching and training tools is the least we can do.”

Keynote speaker Darrell Green is best known as a former cornerback with the Washington Redskins. During his record-setting 20 year career with the team he came to be known and lovingly referred to as “Mr. Redskin.” His on field accomplishments include two Super Bowl victories, seven selections to the Pro Bowl, and four NFL Fastest Man competitions. In 1991 he was the World’s Fastest Athlete and even at the age of 40, Green ran the 40-yard dash in 4.2 seconds. He has received a number of awards, including the NFL’s most prestigious Man of the Year award in 1996. In 2008, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Think Detroit PAL was formed on March 1, 2006, by the merger of two of the leading youth development organizations in the Detroit area:  Think Detroit, Inc. and the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL). The organization is one of the largest non-profit urban youth development programs in the nation, and serves nearly 12,000 young people annually through athletic, academic, and leadership development programs.

For more information, to volunteer, or to make a donation, please contact Think Detroit PAL at 313.833.1600 or on the web at www.thinkdetroitpal.org.