OFA Press Release
Tiger-Cats Players, Sports Legacy Institute Canada, and Ontario Football Association Deliver Innovative Brains & Brawn: Safe Skills Football Camp
Hamilton Tiger-Cats players, the Sports Legacy Institute (SLI) Canada and the Ontario Football Association have partnered to deliver an innovative skills and brain safety football camp for young athletes on May 25, 2013.
The camp will teach minor football players ages 6-15 years old fundamental football skills designed to improve their game. Young players will also be educated on how to reduce the risk of brain injuries in this upcoming season. Coaches and parents are welcome to attend and will also be offered a free clinic to learn the most up-to-date strategies to keep young players safe.
Youth football players will attend from across Southern Ontario for a day of valuable training with Hamilton Tiger-Cats players Andy Fantuz and Brian Bulcke. The schedule will include: fundamental football skills, a brain safety presentation, injury prevention exercises and proper tackling techniques.
For more information, please click here.
The brain safety presentation will be an SLI Community Educators (SLICE) program, a cutting-edge interactive workshop for young athletes that teaches them about concussion symptoms and what to do if they develop symptoms. 93% of attendees strongly agree because of SLICE they are more likely to tell a coach if they suspect a concussion. The first Canadian SLICE Chapter was founded in February 2013 at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ON.
“This camp presents a unique opportunity for young athletes to learn how to play smart football from the pros and to best protect themselves in this upcoming season. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ontario Football Association deserve recognition for taking a leadership role on the issue of brain injuries in minor football. This event will serve as a catalyst to achieve the required culture change in sport that will make contact sports sustainable. Football is about teaching discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, and leadership. We want to create a safe environment for young athletes to learn these important life-lessons,” said Tim Fleiszer, Executive Director of Sports Legacy Institute Canada.
“The Ontario Football Alliance is proud to be taking proactive steps towards advancing brain safety in football with Sports Legacy Institute Canada and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats! Brawn and Brains Football Camp speaks to how important it is to educate the players on safety, while advancing skill fundamentals to continue playing the game our athletes love,” said Tina Turner, Executive Director of Ontario Football Alliance.
The Sports Legacy Institute (SLI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in June 2007 by concussion expert Dr. Robert Cantu, MD, and former Harvard football player and WWE professional wrestler, Chris Nowinski, to “solve the concussion crisis”. The Sports Legacy Institute Canada, the non-profit’s first international chapter, was founded in December 2012 by Nowinski’s college teammate and former CFL player, Tim Fleiszer.
