Wildcats To Host Football Camp For Disabled Children

NOVI, MI — On Monday, June 19, the Novi football team will host its second annual Fantasy Football Camp for children with disabilities. The evening camp, in conjunction with Easterseals’ Miracle League of Michigan, is free for all disabled children throughout the metro Detroit area.

Campers will have the thrill of entering Wildcat Stadium through the same inflatable tunnel that the varsity players use to run onto the field every Friday night in the fall. Camp participants will take part in drills that simulate a typical Wildcats football practice, competing in cone and bag drills to increase agility, while learning the basics about blocking, tackling, passing and catching.

The camp is supervised by the Wildcats football coaching staff with assistance from the 2017 varsity players and Easterseals Michigan staff. All levels of athletic ability are welcome and all drills will be adapted to allow the success of all involved.

Last summer, the Novi coaches and players devised a plan to come up with an idea so children with disabilities could also enjoy playing on the gridiron. They hosted approximately 30 children.

“We live in a world where a lot of times it’s about ‘me, me, me’ and I want our kids to start giving back to everybody else,” Novi head coach Jeff Burnside said. This year, Burnside and the players would like to see more participants and community involvement.

“We taught every kid – whether they were in a wheelchair or could run really well – how to tackle last year, we taught them how to throw, how to catch, how to kick,” Burnside said. “This year we really want to open it up because now we have a real good understanding of what we’re looking to do, (and) our kids are doing a great job of wanting to give back.”

To register a child, contact Easterseals community engagement specialist Ceri Dunn at 248-475-6405 or email cdunn@essmichigan.org. If sending an email, please include participant’s name, age, and T-shirt size.

Photo courtesy of Novi Community Schools