Football Clinic for Girls a Success
by NY Sharks
March 6, 2010

Staten Island, New York -
It was another successful football event as the 4th Annual Football Clinic for Girls was held on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at Victory Indoor Sports Arena on Staten Island. This free all-day clinic, hosted by the Fins Up! Foundation for Female Athletics and produced by the players and staff of the New York Sharks was joined by Adam Koets of the New York Giants who was on hand (with his Super Bowl ring) to help coach the girls.

Melissa Pickett, Sharks Assistant Director of Community Events & Appearances, worked alongside Sharks team owner Andra Douglas to organize the camp. Former player and coach, Beth Nugent was Head Coach of the event while Adam Koets, guard and center for the NY Giants, coached and mentored the participants.

It was the largest group yet as NY Sharks players were instrumental in signing up nearly 175 participants from ages 12 to 18, although some younger girls just came to watch. Former player Veta Williams brought two bus loads of girls from the school where she teaches on Long Island. Groups that attended included: the Girls Scouts; Girls, Inc; and The Young Women's Leadership Foundation.

The group was split up into teams and taught different player positions as well as how to hold, catch, handoff and throw the football. Drills continued with hand and foot placement culminating in actual groups of 7 on 7 flag football games.

While football was the sport, the focus was to teach confidence, team spirit and most of all to have fun without any pressure to win. Along with teaching the basic skills of football came Life Skills where Adam and girlfriend Taya Wyss talked about goal setting and responsibilities.

Taya Wyss is part of a group called WAGs, Wives and Girlfriends (of NY Giants.) She met the Sharks when they were working at a Giants game and, after talking to some of the Shark payers learned about their camp. Taya, who was looking for an organization that she felt compelled to support with both time and money said, “I love football and the thought of empowering young women. I felt compelled to assist in creating awareness of both the Girls Football Camp and women’s tackle football”.

Taya was able to come up with some funding, particularly the cost of the buses that took the girls to and from four locations in NYC. She eagerly attended the event and was able to speak not only with the girls but also their parents, who said that at first were not keen on their daughters playing a rough contact sport. “Once they saw them play”, said Taya, “they accepted that they were not in any danger and really enjoying themselves”.

Players Cheri Eleazer, Erica Butler, Takesha Dye, Mandy Oppel, Lorinda Ferguson, Kymm Elliot, Virginai “Chachi” Leon, Sarah Schkeeper, Janea Wilkerson, Jessica Vasquez, Marcie Kowalski, Vanessa Schoening, Tia Hopkins, Dana Sparling, and Manoucha “Nikki” Joseph, made up the NY Sharks players coaching staff and Sharks trainer Amy Lenz volunteered her time. Let’s not leave out the 2010 Coaching staff that participated in this fun-filled day.

The NY Sharks Annual Girls Football Camp is open to any girl between the ages of 12 and 17 regardless of their residence. All participants received a commemorative IWFL wristband, a NY Giants tee-shirt and free tickets to a New York Sharks game.