BURBANK — Ted Amorosi is a busy man this time of year.
As the head coach for the Burbank High football team, Amorosi spends much of his time during the summer preparing for the upcoming season and getting things in order for the Bulldogs.
In addition to being a husband and father, Amorosi, the former Glendale High football coach, also devotes this time to the Burbank Vikings Youth Tackle Football program, serving on the organization’s board.
Despite having a hectic schedule, the coach made time the past two weeks to give back to young athletes who were more than appreciative.
Amorosi served as the director of two installments of the NFL Junior Player Development Program. The final session began Monday and concludes today at Burbank High.
Despite the tremendous amount of preparation it took to set up and run the program — which attracted 170 players — Amorosi said the work has been worth it
“This is what I love to do,” he said. “As a football coach, I’ve never worked a day in my life. For us to come out here and do some of this extra work and put in a few more hours, it’s all worth it. It’s worth it because of the benefits to the community and the long-term benefits to the local football programs. It’s a very small price for us to pay.
“That’s why we coach, to try and make a difference in kids’ lives.”
The program is unique in the fact that athletes are able to attend it for free.
At the camps, football players had the opportunity to learn about character development and specific skill training.
Since its inception in 1999, the program has provided a youth tackle football program for boys and girls 12-14. The program is designed to teach participants various skills at every position.
Coaches follow a specifically designed curriculum created by a sports psychologist, with different life skills integrated throughout the on-field curriculum. Subjects include responsibility, goal setting, sportsmanship, self-control, smart moves and teamwork.
At this week’s camp, players were separated into groups that took turns at various stations. At the stations, athletes went through a variety of agility drills, as well as taking part in football fundamentals, like the correct way to get in a three-point stance, the proper way to backpedal as a defensive back and the right way to catch the ball as a receiver.
