The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Crestwood students get football lessons
Cleveland Browns teach football fundamentals at Crestwood Elementary
Members of the Cleveland Browns youth football program stopped by Crestwood Elementary School in Elyria to introduce the gridiron game to youngsters Oct. 9 and let them have some fun on a nice fall day.
The event, which is part of the NFL’s Fuel Up to Play 60, took place at the school, 42331 Griswold Road, and is part of how the Browns are giving back to Northeast Ohio.
“We value education and making an introduction to the game of football that is also fun for the kids in the area,” said Darrell Taylor, youth football manager for the Browns. “We are in the second year of this program where we go around and introduce football through drills and flag football activities.
“Last year was kind of a trial run for us. But our goal is to get to 40 schools this year; we will start going into gymnasiums as the weather turns.”
Taylor said the event emphasizes fun.
“In general, we want this to be a great introduction for the game of football, but the big thing is the kids have fun,” he said.
“Youth sports participation is down because kids are no longer having fun, so that is the big goal for us.”
Jan Diamond, school marketing manager for the American Dairy Association Mideast, was at the event for the partnership the association has with the NFL.
“The partnership with the NFL is to engage Fuel Up to Play 60 to make sure kids are eating healthy,” Diamond said. “This is done by encouraging whole grains and low-fat dairy products.”
Jomal Rivera was one of the parent volunteers for the event.
“I am a youth football coach, coach of the seventh-grade team for Elyria and my son, Juan Rivera Jr. (9, fourth-grade), goes to school here, so it was a natural opportunity,” Rivera said. “The numbers for youth football are up for us in Elyria, which is great to see.
“The culture around it has changed, and the Youth Miniature Pioneers Youth Program is doing well. It’s great the Browns are teaching the kids how to be safe and have fun playing football.”