USA Football Player Academy’s begin in June and registration is now open. See the full schedule here, and register your youth football player today.
When Randy Butler first heard that USA Football would be holding a Player Academy in North Canton, Ohio, he was immediately interested. The Academy - which is a football developmental camp designed for athletes aged 9-14 and will be taking place from June 22-25 - is being held just five miles away from the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he thought the entire experience would be worthwhile for his 9-year-old son, Nikalas.
When Butler told Nikalas about the Academy, his son was excited, and Butler decided they should attend. There was only one obstacle - Butler lives in Dyersburg, Tenn.
So Butler decided to drive 12 hours to Canton so his son could enjoy the Academy and learn more about America’s favorite sport.
“It’s just one of those things that my son has a love for football and just seeing him excited about something and learning about the sport is just gratifying for me,” said Butler, also a USA Football coaching member. “Going to camps in this atmosphere and learning from people that are experts in the field, it just leads to better things and builds excitement for the kids.”
Butler is a youth football league director and works at a local YMCA. He will be making the trip to Canton with his friend Thad Puzdrakiewicz and Puzdrakiewicz’s son, Thaddeus.
The Player Academy offers detailed instruction for youth players, and normally that would be enough for Butler and his son.
Having the Academy at the home of the Hall of Fame is just icing on the cake.
“We’re going to get to Canton by Sunday evening (June 21) because on Monday, the check-in time for the Academy is at night,” Butler said. “We’re going to get up early (on Monday) and check out the Hall of Fame, let the boys experience that and just further build their excitement.”
Player Academies aren’t the only way that Butler has become involved in the game his son loves. Butler also will be attending USA Football’s State Leadership Forum at the Tennessee Titans facility on March 28.
He has been to a USA Football Coaching School in Nashville in the past, but this will be his first time at a Forum.
“It’s just really good to see there’s somebody that’s picking up the reigns and that there’s an organization that’s trying to educate with football and put the kids’ safety in the front,” Butler said. “There’s a governing body (USA Football) and since it’s coming from the NFL and the Players’ Association, it holds weight with kids.”
Butler enjoys going to these events because it furthers his and his son’s knowledge of the game.
“It’s mainly about building relationships with other folks that have interest in the sport and also learning more about the game itself,” Butler said. “It’s an opportunity to see more parts of the country and get involved in something my son is interested in right now.”
Even if that involvement means a 12-hour commute.
