With a Kansas City Chiefs victory in the team’s first pre-season game, what better way to follow up than with one of its all-time stars teaching area youth about the game of football?
Tonight, Friday, Aug. 8, and tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 9, former Chiefs All-Pro Guard Will Shields is holding a free football training camp in conjunction with the Kansas City United Football League and the Wyandotte County Panthers. The camp is being held at Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, in Kansas City, Kan.
More than 200 youth from the area are expected to participate in the two-day camp. Thanks to an NFL Foundation grant, all fees have been covered allowing youth to participate at no cost.
Camp sessions are Friday evening, 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (a lunch break will take place from noon-1 p.m.)
Shields and his staff will conduct the camp with professional athletic trainers on-site to assure safety requirements are followed. The camp is designed for both youth involved in organized sports activities and for those who just want to be active. Camp activities will focus on agility, lower body mobility, change of direction speed and jumping/landing techniques, strength, balance and flexibility. Strength, speed, cardiovascular capacity, flexibility, power and leadership skills training will be provided to all participants. In addition, Shields’ program is aimed at building character, physical and mental champions. Activities will also include vertical jump, long jump, 40-yard dash, 60-yard shuttle and more.
Since retiring from the Chiefs, Shields has focused on enhancing youth athletic training for many years. In addition to his Will to Succeed Foundation that has helped thousands of children and women in the metro area, Shields is forming a new foundation- The Will To Do It. This new foundation will focus on providing sports training to underprivileged youth; it is one of many programs administered by 68’s Inside Sports Academy. The facility is located at 9111 Flint St., Overland Park, Kan.
Shields has been recognized for his charitable efforts through numerous awards including his selection as the 2003 recipient of the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the Class of 2011 College Football Hall of Fame and as the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s 2010 Man of the Year award. Shields is also a recent inductee into the Chiefs Hall of Fame. All of these honors recognize Shields’ success both on and off the field.
