R.I. Football Academy a success once again

Pete Fontaine
Posted 7/15/15

“My son really loves football,” Jim D’Amore, who works in the computer hardware industry and lives in Cranston, offered while standing on the trodden turf at CCRI’s Knight Campus Complex in …

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R.I. Football Academy a success once again

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“My son really loves football,” Jim D’Amore, who works in the computer hardware industry and lives in Cranston, offered while standing on the trodden turf at CCRI’s Knight Campus Complex in Warwick last Friday morning. “This week has been a valuable and enjoyable learning experience for him.”

The same held true for some 200 other youngsters ages 7-14 who participated in the well-organized, highly-skilled Rhode Island Football Academy last week.

For youngsters like Nick D’Amore, 10, who plays in the ageless CLCF Football Association, it was a week’s worth of instruction – for less than most parents pay for day care – featuring some of Rhode Island’s most knowledgeable high school coaches and local residents who once starred on the Ocean State gridiron but now coach at the collegiate level.

“This camp is so well organized,” Jim D’Amore went on, “even we as parents can just stand back, watch and learn various techniques of this complex game we all know as football.”

Even D’Amore’s son Nick – who plays running back and linebacker for the CLCF’s entry into the American Youth Football Association – elevated his game and will certainly be more than ready when the long-time Cranston football group issues its player call next month.

“Our camp philosophy is teaching football the right way,” Paul Sylvia – a.k.a. Coach Paul – who founded the RIFA that’s now in its 13th season, began. “We strive to deliver proper football instruction to campers of all playing levels; our training sessions are fun and up tempo.”

Sylvia is assisted by legendary Johnston High School All-State quarterback Tom Centore – who went on to play at URI and now serves as Cranston East High’s Head Football Coach – and for years they’ve helped campers learn to play an offensive and defensive position.

“The daily training schedule allows the camper to get a realistic feel of practicing at an advanced level,” Centore noted. “This training ensures the success of the camper in becoming an elite football player. The youth division is contact football and we require all the players to wear protective head gear.”

In all, players like Nick D’Amore and those from various youth football groups from all over Rhode Island – and even individuals from as far away as England and Germany and other parts of New England – were sent through a total of seven stations during last week’s camp.

The four offensive stations were: quarterback, receivers, offensive line and running backs. Defensively, the young gridders learned the defensive line, linebacking and defensive back positions.

“What I really like is that all the coaches work well with each and every player,” Jim D’Amore went on. “There’s no yelling … screaming … the coaches coach and show the kids the proper stances, techniques, etc. I’d say this has to be the best camp of its kind in the state.”

Few parents, if any, would dispute that theory. Especially after Sylvia and Centore – along with other high school and college coaches collected the equipment then served more than 70 pizzas and soda to the tired yet smiling youth football upstarts.

The RIFA also has a high school division and for more information please contact Coach Paul at rifootballacademy.com.

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