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Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Hosts Free Youth Clinic
ARLINGTON – It’s not every day that area youth receive an opportunity to hone their football skills on the turf of AT&T Stadium and then wrap up the day with a surprise visit by a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
On Monday morning, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic hosted more than 350 local youth, ages 11-14, in a free football clinic sponsored by the Children’s Health Andrews Institute in Plano and Wilson Sporting Goods.
Coaches from college programs throughout Texas guided the youngsters thru three hours of drills, emphasizing offensive and defensive fundamentals that will prove beneficial as they advance in youth sports. The on-field activities concluded with a “Fastest Man” competition.
After the footballs were put away, the fun continued when Tyrone Crawford, the Dallas Cowboys starting defensive end, dropped by to deliver powerful messages about overcoming obstacles, being a good teammate, and taking care of your body. Crawford, who grew up in Canada, played his college football at Bakersfield, Calif., Junior College and Boise State before being drafted by the Cowboys in 2012.
While the youngsters were enjoying themselves on the football field, their parents took part in a special “Concussions 101” seminar, led by Christine Ellis, a pediatric nurse practitioner that works with sports concussion patients at the Andrews Institute on the Children’s Medical Center campus in Plano.
Ms. Ellis provided valuable information on recognizing concussion symptoms and the importance of moving swiftly to obtain prompt medical attention, reminding parents there is no such thing as a minor concussion.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the turnout we had on Monday,” Jay McAuley, Chairman of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic said. “For many, this was their first time inside AT&T Stadium. We want to give as many kids as we can the opportunity to learn some of the basics of football in an amazing environment. We were thrilled with the results.”
