By NFL High School Player Development
The High School Player Development team arrived in Cleveland on March 31 to kick off its Leadership program. With the Browns serving as host, nearly 50 student-athletes from nineteen different high schools attended the one-day event comprised of activities in three different areas – the classroom, the community, and leadership competitions. Participants were chosen from nominations received weeks in advance of the event. To be eligible for nomination from their high school coach, student-athletes must be a member of their high school football team, hold at least a 3.0 GPA, maintain at least 90% class attendance, and exhibit leadership qualities such as teamwork, integrity, dedication, and commitment.
Player Engagement Ambassador and former NFL Tight End Tony Stewart started the day off strong with an intensive character development and life skills training session. He talked with the group of young men about perception and social media usage, the importance of their education, and setting goals. “Perceptions are not always reality to you, but a person’s perception of you is their reality of you,” Stewart repeated while maintaining the full attention of each young man in the room. Throughout the presentation, Stewart received feedback and interacted with various individuals on a personal level.
Participants transitioned to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, the largest hunger-relief organization in Northeast Ohio, where they either packed sack lunches for after-school programs in underserved communities or sorted goods into the proper categories for distribution. Volunteering in this meaningful service project allowed each individual to give back to their own community. The Browns’ First and Ten program asks all members of the community to give ten hours of their time each year to better the Cleveland area. John LaForce, Youth Football Manager for the Browns, explains, “The HSPD Leadership program really teaches these kids what they need to do in their community to become a better member of the community, a better teammate, and a better student as well.”
After returning to the Cleveland Browns practice facility, the student-athletes enjoyed the opportunity to mingle with one another over lunch before the day wrapped up with some leadership competitions led by the NFL. These four unique team-building activities reinforced leadership and communication skills within the group. The activities really resonated with a participant from Cuyahoga Heights High School who reported his favorite activity “took a lot of teamwork to reach the common goal as does football, and it was cool to work with new people.”
The HSPD Leadership program is designed to provide high school athletes with a better understanding of what it means to be leaders both on and off the football field while giving them a clearer picture of the importance of good character and education, regardless of the level of their athletic potential. Surprise guest, Browns Head Coach Mike Pettine, reiterated this idea by telling the group, “Your athletic ability will get you into the League, but it’s your character that will keep you there.” The leadership program proves to be a once in a lifetime experience for many young men. Participating in the program will not only enhance the participant, but also indirectly enhance their team as they take back the lessons they learned. John Hay High School Head Coach Randy Decipeda commented, “The experience has been nothing but positive. It’s something that I wish my whole team could attend.”