Local Youth "S.W.E.A.T" at Titans Gatorade Junior Training Camp

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Titans invited youth from four local non-profit organizations to participate in the Gatorade Junior Training Camp last week.  In conjunction with the NFL's PLAY 60 Campaign and Gatorade, the camp's focus was to promote physical fitness and the proper nutrition in order to lead a healthy lifestyle.  The youth participated in various football related activities and were thrilled to be running drills at the Titans Practice Facility, Baptist Sports Park.

The Titans hosted campers ages eight to 14 years old from Backfield in Motion, Martha O'Bryan Center, Special Olympics Tennessee and Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee.  The four-day camp was open to boys and girls with an average of sixty participants from each organization attending per day. Training camp activities included seven stations highlighting football related drills as well as presentations from Baptist Sports trainers on stretching, eating right and staying healthy. Titans staff also spoke to campers emphasizing the PLAY 60 and Gatorade message of S.W.E.A.T. (Safety, Will to win, Energy, Attitude, Training).

Several Titans players and the Titans mascot, T-RAC, stopped by to encourage participants and reinforced the message of promoting an active lifestyle. Colin Allred, Chris Hope, Vincent Fuller, Ahmard Hall, Kevin Mawae, Donnie Nickey and Kyle Vanden Bosch visited with campers at drill stations as they participated in the activities and encouraged some of their biggest fans.  For many of the players, it was a truly rewarding experience to play alongside the young boys and girls and show them the importance of staying fit. 

Titans All-Pro Safety Chris Hope, who is dedicated to getting youth fit and staying in shape, saw the Gatorade Junior Training Camp as a perfect example of his message.  Hope was excited to run through the drills with the participants while providing encouragement.

"Personally, being a spokesperson for 'Get Fit Tennessee' of Nashville, I have the opportunity to visit  elementary schools and educate people on how important it is to stay in shape or just get up and do something whether it's walking, doing pushups or jumping jacks," said Hope. "These camps are right in line with that.  Some kids have become so dependent on video games, television and doing things inside the house, they start to become obese.  This is why it's important for them to be active so they can lead happy, healthy lives.  Hopefully, with them meeting us without our helmets, jerseys and numbers on, having the opportunity to shake hands and smile, they will remember the fitness message we shared with them."

The children were thrilled to get one-on-one instruction from Hope and his teammates as well as getting to know the faces behind the masks.  Hope believes it will go a long way in instilling the message of getting 60 minutes of activity every day.

"As a sports organization, Special Olympics is committed to the health and well-being of the population it serves," said Sean Stake, Middle Tennessee Regional Coordinator for Special Olympics.  "Our mission statement says 'to provide our athletes with continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness,' and the PLAY 60 program has the same general mission.  We want these athletes that typically do not have the opportunity to participate in sports to get off the couch and be active.  The Titans Gatorade Junior Training Camp gave them the chance to do that.  Our athletes love football which is why we have started it as a sport.  Our athletes also love the Tennessee Titans.  For them to have a chance to meet some of their idols and show off their skills to them in a group setting is priceless.  It is an experience that they will never forget and will be telling their friends for years to come."

Kyle Vanden Bosch was present when the Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee came to camp on Friday.  Vanden Bosch is on the board of the Boys and Girls and Club and was awarded the Sydney F. Keeble, Jr. Distinguished Service Award early this spring for his dedication to the organization.  In turn, he has become very familiar with the kids and coaches of the group.  He spent the morning going through drills and interacting with the children -- speaking to them about fitness, taking care of their bodies and eating right.
At the end of each day, campers were given prizes and honored for their hard work and physical activities.

"For me it wasn't about the prizes," said Jonathan Vincent, a youth participant from Backfield in Motion. "I like doing the drills and playing football.  I learned you have to do your best and give it your all!"

Jonathan's attitude is a true example of the "S.W.E.A.T" message taught throughout the Gatorade Junior Training Camp.  His words demonstrated the positive energy of all campers during the week.

"We always talk to the kids about exercise, diet and how important staying fit is," said Floyd Walker, Backfield in Motion administrator. "Some of them are going to get it and hopefully we can keep on preaching it so sooner or later they will all get it."

The message of Gatorade Junior Training Camp goes far beyond becoming a better athlete. It provides campers with the skills necessary to be a better teammate while giving them the ability to set and achieve goals in all aspects of life as they maintain a healthy lifestyle.  The important elements of "S.W.E.A.T" have assisted the Titans in their continued effort to promote the PLAY 60 message encouraging kids to get 60 minutes of active play everyday.  The Gatorade Junior Training Camps, Titans Fitness Day at the Zoo as well as local school visits are all part of the Titans mission to communicate this message to area youth in order to lead a healthier lifestyle. With support from Gatorade, the Titans successfully encouraged over 200 youth to make positive health and living choices.

*For more information on the PLAY 60 initiative, visit *[

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