Today’s youth football players are the NFL stars of tomorrow. The Chicago Bears have always taken an active role in offering and supporting a variety of youth football opportunities throughout Chicagoland. Through youth camps, tackle leagues, flag leagues, skills development clinics, and junior training camps, our goal remains the same – to encourage children of all ages and skill levels to play the great game of football. 

	CHICAGO BEARS YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMPS The Chicago Bears are proud to announce that Sports Illustrated for Kids has recognized Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps as the Best Summer Camp in Illinois! This honor reflects the hard work and dedication of all the coaches and staff that work tirelessly throughout the year to create such a wonderful experience for the 1,100+ children who participate in the camps each summer. Check out the Sports Illustrated for Kids guide to the best summer sports camps by visiting http://www.sikids.com/camps/. Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps, the official youth camps of the Chicago Bears, provide age appropriate skill lessons through station-based training for kids between the ages of 6 and 14. The camps challenge experienced athletes to reach new goals, while building a solid foundation for newcomers to the game. Kids will learn to run, throw, catch, defend, form block, form tackle and explode out of a stance with proper technique and improved speed. With patience and encouragement, kids gain confidence and that’s what it’s all about. These week-long camps feature safe, non-contact football instruction and athletic development, as well as instruction about good nutrition, proper hydration, and rest and recovery. Camps are led by professional educators with high school, college or professional coaching experience. Bears Heroes, men who earned their living wearing the Chicago Bears uniform, provide supporting instruction at all Camp locations. Bears Heroes are fathers and family men who understand the dynamics of communicating with young people. Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps will take place in numerous locations throughout the greater Chicagoland area during the summer of 2008, and door-to-door bus transportation is available. Be a part of our program! Call (312) 226-7776 for more information or to register, or visit www.BearsCamps.com for a complete listing of 2008 locations and dates of Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps.
	BEARS FLAG FOOTBALL The Bears annually host a 34-team flag football league for high schools in the Chicago area that offer flag football as an intramural sport. There are Chicago Catholic, Chicago Public, Suburban Catholic, and Suburban Public schools that participate. Teams compete in league play for seven weeks prior to a tournament to determine the season’s champion. The 2007 semi-finals and championship games were played in the Walter Payton Center at the Bears training facility in Lake Forest on Saturday, October 27. Neuqua Valley defeated Notre Dame 6-0 in the championship game. The Neuqua Valley players and coaches were guests of the Bears for our game on November 25, and they were honored during an on-field presentation. Past Champions Year School 1994 Notre Dame High School 1995 Providence High School 1996 Lane Technical High School 1997 Lane Technical High School 1998 Saint Laurence High School 1999 Libertyville High School 2000 Waubonsie Valley High School 2001 Waubonsie Valley High School 2002 Notre Dame High School 2003 Lake Forest High School 2004 Joliet Catholic High School 2005 Neuqua Valley High School 2006 St. Rita High School 2007 Neuqua Valley High School
	BEARS "COACH OF THE WEEK" PROGRAM  For nine weeks during the high school football season, the Bears selected one high school football head coach as the Bears “Coach of the Week” winner. This program was created to honor coaches who develop players’ football skills and knowledge, character and leadership, discipline, teamwork abilities, and contributions to his program, players and community. Graduation rates, school and fan support and, most importantly, contributions to players’ long-term success on and off the field are also included. The 2007 “Coach of the Week” winners were recognized at the Bears vs. Giants game on December 2 during a halftime ceremony. Honorees also received a framed certificate signed by head Coach Lovie Smith, and they attended a Bears practice and “chalk-talk” with Coach Smith. The Chicago Bears made a $1,500 contribution to the football program at each winning coach’s school. Since the “Coach of the Week” program’s inception in 1996, the Chicago Bears have donated over $149,000 to various high school football programs in Chicagoland and throughout the state of Illinois 2007 Winners Week Name School Week 1 Dave Mattio Marion Catholic High School Week 2 Tom Shallenberger Mahomet-Seymour High School Week 3 Paul Workman Cerro Gordo/DeLand-Waldon High School Week 4 Jim Stuglis Crystal Lake High School Week 5 Rob Glielmi Lincoln-Way Central High School Week 6 Derek Leonard Rochester High School Week 7 Tony Monken Vernon Hills High School Week 8 Tim Haak Harvard High School Week 9 Mike Burzawa Driscoll Catholic High School 2006 Winners Week Name School Week 1 Guy Goodlove Westville High School Week 2 Glen Kozlowski Wauconda High School Week 3 John Beccue Monticello High School Week 4 Mike Emanuelson Eisenhower High School Week 5 Rich Stewart Hillsboro High School Week 6 Jesse Chick Simeon High School Week 7 Tim Racki Nazareth Academy Week 8 Mike Donatucci Fremd High School Week 9 Marty Balle Sandburg High School
	USA FOOTBALL COACHING SCHOOL  The Chicago Bears will be hosting the USA Football Coaching School at Halas Hall, the Chicago Bears Training Facility, in Lake Forest on Saturday, May 17.  This coaching clinic is designed exclusively for youth football coaches. Coaches will learn effective ways to develop and organize their team, teach the proper fundamentals, implement drills and communicate with players, parents and other coaches. For more information or to register, log on to www.usafootball.com. Click here for the 2008 Flyer & Registration Form.
	JUNIOR TRAINING CAMP  The Gatorade Junior Training Camp is a grass roots, community outreach program designed to teach youth, ages 7-14, football-related skills in a non-contact environment. The program is a complimentary camp that gives kids the chance to participate in a series of games and activities involving passing, receiving, and running. Gatorade Junior Training Camp is open to boys and girls throughout Chicago Bears Training Camp in Bourbonnais in July/August.
	PLAY FOOTBALL DAY The Bears vs. Cardinals game on Friday, August 25 was “Play Football Day” at Soldier Field, and the Chicago Bears provided nearly 2,000 complimentary tickets to 57 different youth football leagues throughout Chicagoland. Youth football players from Chicagoland Pop Warner scrimmaged prior to the game and then joined Bears players on the sidelines for the National Anthem. Youth football players from the Chicago Park District’s Inner City Flag and Junior Bear Tackle leagues scrimmaged during halftime. “Play Football Day” was one component of the Chicago Bears support of Play Football Month, which was created by USA Football, the National Football League, and the NFL Players Association. Play Football Month was started as a grassroots campaign to promote the sport of football at all levels – from youth leagues to the NFL – and includes clinics, skills competitions, scrimmages, picnics and parades for football fans in communities throughout the country.
	NFL FLAG FOOTBALL Coaches and Parents! NFL FLAG is the National Football League's premier youth football program for kids 6-14 years old. Available nationwide, including in all 32 NFL markets, NFL FLAG is a community-based turnkey program that provides all youth the opportunity to play in an organized NFL non-contact football league. Get involved and start an NFL FLAG League today! For more information, click here NFL FLAG is the National Football League's premier youth football program for kids 6-14 years old. Available nationwide, including in all 32 NFL markets, NFL FLAG is a community-based turnkey program that provides all youth the opportunity to play in an organized NFL non-contact football league. Get involved and start an NFL FLAG League today! For more information, Calling all kids!  You can participate in the NFL's premier youth football program…NFL FLAGl! Kids 6-14 are encouraged to sign-up and play! Every team will receive official NFL team-identified footballs and every participant will receive their favorite NFL team-identified reversible jersey and official NFL FLAG belts. Registered teams are eligible to compete in the NFL FLAG Regional Tournaments in October. Winning teams from each age bracket from the Regional Tournaments are invited to participate in the National Tournament of Champions at DISNEY'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS ® Complex in Orlando, FL. Click here for more information on how to sign up!
	NFL PUNT, PASS AND KICK  This grass roots skills competition for boys and girls ages 8-15 is offered at Chicago schools, through the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, several Chicagoland park districts, and school physical education classes. Children compete against their peers in punting, passing, and place kicking. The top five first-place scorers in each age group from the pool of Sectional Competition champions advance to the Team Championship, which is held at the Bears practice facility in November. Log on to www.nflyouthfootball.com for more information.
	NFL JUNIOR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT The National Football League has developed an introductory/developmental youth tackle football program for boys, ages 12-14. The program is designed to teach every participant every position, through a step-by-step progression of skill instruction packaged in a fun and entertaining manner. All participants receive counseling through a life skills/character development curriculum that is incorporated throughout all on-field activities. This is a free, eight-week program that meets three times per week for two hours each time. For more information or to locate a Junior Player Development site in your area, please log on to www.nflyouthpd.com.
	US ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL Congratulations to Sean Cwynar of Marian Central Catholic High School, Darius Fleming of St. Rita's High School and Steve Filer of Mount Carmel High School for being selected to play in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. With this selection, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl recognizes Cwynar, Fleming and Filer as three of the nation’s top 80 football players. The Bowl showcases tomorrow’s College and NFL stars such as Alumni Tommie Harris, Adrian Peterson, Reggie Bush and Vince Young. The U.S. Army All-American Bowl also awards the Walter Payton Trophy to the nation’s most athletic All-American. Cwynar, Fleming and Filer were honored during an on-field presentation at halftime of the Bears-Lions game on October 28th.
	CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT YOUTH FOOTBALL PROGRAMS  The Chicago Park District operates three youth football programs that are supported by the Chicago Bears through donations of equipment, player support, and various programs for the youth participants. In addition, Bears Care, the charitable beneficiary of the Chicago Bears, makes an annual donation to provide financial support of these youth football programs. These leagues operate at sixteen different Park District facilities throughout the Chicago. Each year these leagues provide thousands of Chicago youth with the opportunity to participate - free of charge - in fun, safe, structured football environments.
	JUNIOR BEAR TACKLE FOOTBALL LEAGUE  The Junior Bear tackle football program is a free, tackle football league serving over 600 boys and girls, ages 8-13, at 14 different parks throughout the city.  Participants compete in either the 8-10 year old “PeeWee” Divison or the 11-13 year old “Varsity” Division against kids their own weight and age.  Junior Bear teams are coached by park district staff as well as volunteers.  This program introduces young people to the game of tackle football and prepares them to play on a high school level.  The annual Mum Bowl, the championship game for the Junior Bear program, is played at Soldier Field in November, giving the participants a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play little league football in a big league arena!
	BEARS INNER CITY FLAG FOOTBALL  The Bears Inner City Flag Football program is designed for boys and girls, ages 9 to 12, who live in Chicago Housing Authority developments or scattered site housing. The league is administered by the Park District in partnership with the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Housing Authority and sponsored by the Chicago Bears and the National Football League. Teams are coached by community volunteers recruited with assistance from the Chicago Police Department (CAPS). Park staffers assist the volunteer coaches and accompany teams to and from games as well as conduct practices and make space available at the park. The program is free to all participants. The Bears contribute financially and host the players at a Bears game or training camp. The league consists of 16 teams and 240 participants and concludes with a championship game, which has been played in the Walter Payton Center at the Bears practice facility in Lake Forest.
	NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH FOOTBALL  Coordinated by the Chicago Park District, as well as several suburban parks, this league has more than 7,000 third and fourth grade participants. The league was started by Sheriff Michael F. Sheahan in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood over 20 years ago and focuses on building confidence, self-esteem, leadership, and teamwork. The Chicago Bears make an annual monetary contribution through Bears Care.