NFL Evolution will feature a guest columnist every Tuesday, each with a different viewpoint of player health and safety from the youth level to pro football.
By Chris Golic, NFL Evolution columnist
Wow! Wasn't the Super Bowl terrific? Such a great game between two really amazing teams then add Katy Perry and her dancing sharks and it really was a fun event for all of us.
Obviously the game is the focal point of the week but during the days leading up to the game there are so many events that go on all over the city. While most people are aware of the parties and concerts, I don't know how many of you know about all the things that go on for kids. The NFL does a great job giving kids the opportunity to experience their own little slice of the Super Bowl fanfare by participating in some fun events.
On both Monday and Tuesday of the week, NFL FLAG Football held its national championships. Thirty-two teams of boys and girls ages 9-14 competed. They were really impressive to watch. Not only did they play their games they also attended both the Pro Bowl and media day.
Wednesday, the focus was on the NFL PLAY 60 program. More than 2,000 children from schools across Arizona were invited to attend.
The invites to the event were earned by accumulating a required number of points through the schools' PLAY 60 programs during the year. The kids came to Phoenix and participated in activities, including some with NFL players and fitness trainer Shaun T, of Insanity workout fame.
The PLAY 60 program does a great job of promoting young children to move for at least 60 minutes a day and this day of fun made the kids commitment to playing 60 extra rewarding.
The PLAY 60 program also held a contest encouraging kids to submit a video on why it's important to play 60. The winner won a trip to the Super Bowl with his family and the chance to bring the ball out on field before the big game.
This year's winner was a 12-year-old named Bobby Sena from Orlando, Florida. I was lucky enough to spend some time with Bobby and his family and he really is a great young guy. He was everywhere that week. Bobby went to media day, was on the set of "Mike and Mike" and even attended Commissioner Roger Goodell's press conference. Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Finally, on Thursday, I was thrilled to attend the Legacy Grant event. This year the NFL Foundation and the Super Bowl Host Committee donated a $2 million grant to the Arizona Community Foundation, which will fund charitable projects throughout Arizona. As a result, the benefits of hosting the game will be felt in the state long after the game is over.
I talked to many of the people whose organizations will benefit from the grant and it was wonderful to hear the good the money will do for so many.
Along with the grant events, there also was a demonstration of the Heads Up Football tackling technique by some of the ASU Prep High School football players for those in attendance to observe and try as well. A former Philadelphia Eagles teammate of my husband's, Byron Evans, is the coach there. It was a great to see him and his team out there as a Heads Up team.
All in all, the events for kids were terrific and a big part of the week that celebrates the great sport of football. I loved seeing them all enjoy the fun the week brought to Arizona and I felt lucky to be able to be a tiny part of the whole thing myself.
Christine Golic is the NFL's Consultant on Youth Football and a member of the Heads Up Football Advisory Committee. Golic is the wife of Mike Golic, a nine year NFL veteran and co-host of ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning," and mother of two sons who played college football at Notre Dame and a daughter who is a swimmer at Notre Dame.
Cover photo by Christine Golic.
