Sigonella NAS Football Clinic

Tuesday was the First Ever Catania Elephants - Sigonella Naval Air Station Football Camp.

Elephant's coach Paul Pertrich Jr. and players Larry Atkinson, Gustavo Bonanno, Christian DiMauro and Taber LeMarr joined me in a two part session with the U.S. Naval Air Station's children who are interested in learning more about American football.

From 3:00 to 4:00 we worked with the 10-14 year olds and from 4:15 to 6:15 we instructed the high school aged athletes.  We had a GREAT time and they learned a little bit of football to boot!

Larry leading the Youth group in warm-ups

In the last half of the Youth camp, a touch football game mysteriously broke out.

The best moment of the day for me is when a youngster for one team caught the ball carrier from behind and his two hand touch knocked the ball carrier down to the grass.  The defender's older brother who played for the offensive team had a, shall we say "sassy", remark for his brother.

The next thing I hear the defender say is

"I'm going to tell Mom!"

A classic moment in youth sports.

Youth Campers Team Picture

They all said they were going to come to our home game next Sunday against the Reggio Emilia Hogs.

At the high school level the turnout was not quite as good due to a soccer game scheduled at the same time.  Most of the athletes at the Base's high school play three or four sports as it is so time is an issue for them in a clinic like this one.

All in all, it was a BEAUTIFUL day to practice American football!

Here is my kind of Ad of the Day!

Posters like this one are all over the Base thanks to the GREAT people at Sigonella.  Special thanks to Bill, Bob, Zina, Micki and Tara for all they do for the Elephants and our fighting men on duty and their families!