The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017, hosted a Moms Football Safety Clinic at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Va.
A few unlikely players hit the field at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Va. on Aug. 3.
On Thursday, August 3, more than 100 moms from the Richmond area were invited out to the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Facility for the 2017 Redskins Moms Football Safety Clinic.
Nearly 100 local mothers participated in the annual Redskins Moms Football Safety Clinic, hosted by the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation. The event included a Q&A session with Redskins alumni Chris Cooley and Gary Clark, highlighting their experiences in the league, coaching advice and injury prevention tips.
"Chris Cooley and [Gary Clark] were awesome," said Deanna Davis, a mother in attendance. "They taught us how to make our kids coachable because that does make a difference."
Dick's Sporting Goods followed Cooley and Clark with an equipment demonstration, emphasizing the importance of quality helmets, mouth guards, shoulder pads and cleats. With the discussion of injury constantly looming around the sport, Dick's Sporting Goods wanted to ensure moms that there is equipment available to help keep their kids safe on the field.
"I definitely believe that safety is important," said participant Nadine Wyatt. "The equipment and being able to put it on safely and the type of equipment is very important."
After the equipment discussion, the moms headed out to the practice field where they learned proper athletic stances, how to safely wrap up and participated in tackling drills with Cooley, Clark and USA Football Master Trainers Gabe Infante and Kevin Lynott.
"I love seeing [the moms] get on the field, actually learning the drills and understanding and getting into it and just having the great time," said Jane Rodgers, Executive Director of the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation. "The excitement among the women is just extraordinary."
Redskins president Bruce Allen and Rodgers ended on the perfect note, reinforcing the importance of protecting and supporting all children not only on the field but off the field as well.
"Our focus is always on making sure that kids have all that they need to be successful and working with moms is a key in that. So, if we have girls and boys playing football, we want to make sure that the moms know that their gear is on safely, that they know how to interact with the coach and that they know how to be supportive of their child playing football."
