Ex-Dolphins stress safety at youth camp

Taylor, Madison want kids to know how game has changed.

WELLINGTON — Considering Jason Taylor’s pedigree for bone-crunching hits, the Hall of Fame defensive end has no problems acknowledging the dangers of football.

Rather than teach today’s players how to hit like he once did, Taylor and Sam Madison — All-Pro teammates with the Miami Dolphins from 1997-2005 — are spending their post-football lives helping the next generation avoid the on-field mistakes that cost teammates their careers and lives.

“I think it’s important for all levels of football, different guys that played the game and guys that coached the game, to really stress the importance of safety,” Taylor said on Tuesday, adding, “The game is painful, but there’s things you can do practice-wise to take some of that contact out and preserve (the greater game).”

Taylor and Madison, now coaches at St. Thomas Aquinas, are serving as guest coaches this week at the Western Communities Football Tackle Football Showcase at Wellington’s Pierson Park. The camp is run by Aquinas assistant coach Reggie Harris, who will teach players ages 5-15 not only the basics of football, but how to properly play safely.

Coaches working the event will partner with NFL Combine trainer Tony Sands to teach participants about head trauma and why the USA Football Head Up football technique can limit concussions.

“Nine times out of 10, it’s going in one ear and out the other when it’s a parent (talking),” Madison said. “When you have somebody else able to speak those words, play on the level that we played ... I think it’s even more valuable.”

Young players in any sport often try to model themselves after the players they see on TV, which leads to attempts to imitate hard hits.

Though Madison isn’t opposed to young players mimicking their idols, he wants campers at this week’s event to understand why the game has changed.

“That’s what they were taught and everybody on the coaching staff taught that way, so (NFL) players believe that was exactly what the coaches wanted (them) to do,” Madison said. “Well, guess what? There’s a new way of coaching, there’s a new NFL ... now when you get to the NFL, you don’t see those crackback blocks, you don’t see (intentional hits) or going low.”

Taylor stressed that players at any level can improve their safety and avoid injury by working on fundamentals and paying attention to details.

“Teach them early, teach them how to hit early, how to tackle early,” Taylor said. “Use their hands, take their heads out of hits and hopefully as you get older and progress athletically, those things carry over.”