If you're going to go, you might as well go all out. At least that's what Paul Knight and Jose Tavaras would say.
Both men were interested in working as clinicians at the USA Football Player Academy in Poinciana, Fla., which is close to their home in Kissimmee, Fla., where Knight is the head coach of the JV program at Liberty High School and Tavaras is the defensive coordinator.
But they aren't stopping there.
They have now both decided to hit the road and travel along the East Coast working as clinicians at five different USA Football Player Academies.
"We're excited and pleased at having the opportunity to work these camps," said Knight, who has been coaching for nearly 20 years and is also president of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Football Foundation. "We feel very honored to be a part of the USA Football family."
After the first Player Academy in Poinciana from June 15-18, Knight and Tavaras will make their way north to attend the June 29 camp being held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Both coaches are originally from New York, so they'll spend a few days visiting with friends and family before continuing their travels.
When July 6 rolls around, the two will be at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., for their third Player Academy. The fourth will put them in Atlanta on July 20 and they'll complete the road trip with a visit to Zephyrhills, Fla., for USA Football's final Player Academy of the summer.
But how did this idea come about in the first place?
"I heard about the Player Academies through Coach Knight when he showed them to me because my 12-year-old is playing," said Tavaras, who played semi-professional football in New York before starting his high school coaching career there. "Coach Knight was interested in coaching the camps, and we started talking and we said, 'Why don't we do a couple more camps?' And then we just said, 'Sure, let's do it.'"
The camps are designed for athletes ages 9-14, with a minimum of one-year of playing experience. The clinics review the fundamentals on offense, defense and special teams, providing each player with the opportunity to work on their skills. Knight and Tavaras will make up part of the 10-coach crew at each event providing direction to the youth players in their respective positions.
Besides his extensive youth coaching experience, Knight is also the site manager for the Junior Player Development and the High School Player Development programs through the NFL in his area, so the USA Football coaching member stays fully immersed in youth football as much as he can. The upcoming Player Academies are just one more way for Knight to stay involved.
"I played until high school, and I was a running back and a defensive back," he said. "I always want to give back to the youth and youth football that I've been around for such a long time."
Registration is still open for the 12 Player Academies scheduled for 2009, which kickoff in Poinciana, Fla., on June 15.
