The Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Academy hosted a special Father’s Day event on Sunday, June 16, 2024 at Perkiomen Valley High School in Collegeville, PA.
The Eagles Youth Football Academy was pleased to have two great Eagles Alumni join us on Father’s day. Eagles two-time Pro-Bowl linebacker William Thomas joined the camp for the first half where each attendee got an individual picture with him along with two Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders and SWOOP. After the photo station, Thomas opened up the camp by delivering a talk to all the campers and parents. Once the camp got underway, he spent some time with different stations helping to coach the attendees.
For the second half of the camp, Eagles Offensive Tackle Barrett Brooks joined the campers. Barrett went to each station where he coached the attendees and got the chance to have some fun with the kids. Brooks concluded the camp by delivering a great talk for all of the campers and parents, participated in a question and answer session, and then took the camp group photo.
The June 16th event featured nearly 200 athletes and had several youth football programs in attendance including the Stallions who brought 30 of their players. Stallions Football president, Lennie Barno, said it “exceeded expectations”. He had heard about the clinic through the Eagles Kids Club email chain and thought it would be a great opportunity for the players. He hoped that his players would take away a “pro-structure” and that they would understand that their coaches “are not just doing drills and things on our end just to be doing them”. Learning from the pros and the academy coaches really shows the work and effort it takes to get to the same level as the Eagles players.
We asked another parent, Gina Tarquinio, how she found out about the camp, in which she responded that she saw it on facebook. She was excited to bring her son because he was coming off of a “tackle season for second grade” and knew that the combination of working with and “being around (Eagles) players and staff” would make him eager to come to the clinic, in which it did. She hoped that her son would use what he learned at this clinic and pass it onto his friends and teammates, and that a sort of “trickle effect” would form for his football program. She said that this year, this will be the only clinic they attend but, that they would love to come back in the following years.
Finally, we got the pleasure of speaking with Barrett Brooks. When it comes to Barrett’s love for Philly and giving back to the community, he said he feels “at home here in Philly ” and that he has “spent more of my life here, than any other place”. Growing up, Brooks did not have these types of football experiences and now that he is in a position to do so, it is important to him that he gives back to the Philadelphia community and these kids at the clinic. That is also why he is so persuaded to consistently attend the Eagles Youth events and give back to the community. He was elated to be able to come to this clinic and go through the rotations with the attendees.
The Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Academy Clinics run throughout the summer and school year. If you are interested in attending, make sure you join our email list at https://eaglesacademies.com/subscribe/.
