A group of friends from Olmsted Falls practice a play during a camp at the Browns facility. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Browns camp more than just football for youths of all ages
By Matt Pawlikowski
Sports
Published July 4, 2007

Each year, the Cleveland Browns, in cooperation with the National Football League Youth Initiative Mission, host a week long camp for youths based on criteria set forth by the NFL.

It is just one way that the NFL keeps football going strong. The Browns also offer free contact football camps throughout the area via the Junior Player Development program.

Browns director of youth development Ed Suggs, who is in his third year of running the camp, put together the 2007 camp, which was broken into two weeklong sessions. Last week’s session had over 120 kids, including a girl from Berea, along with current Cleveland Browns strength and conditioning coach Tom Myslinski’s son Tom, of Westlake, who really enjoyed the program.

“This is my first year of football,” said Myslinski. “I’ll be in the seventh grade at St. Bernadette’s and like playing quarterback, linebacker and defensive end. I especially like the linebacker position, and this camp was very cool. You get to experience everything and they teach you a lot. The coaches are really nice too.”

Myslinski, who had a chance in the early summer to work with the Browns mini camp, said that one of the things he noticed most during the week long session was how hot it can get when you don the shoulder pads.

“I was really surprised,” said the 5-foot-4, 127 pounder. “They add at least 10 degrees to the air temperature.”

The camp itself is run by a familiar face to the local football scene, North Olmsted coach Mike Ptacek, along with his staff and a few other assistants, including D.A.R.E. police officers and North Olmsted Middle School Principal Jim Alexandrou.

The Browns camp is broken into two sessions. Those kids who are ages 8 to 12 are in the flag session. Those in the 11 to 14 age group bracket participate in the equipment session. Kids 11 and 12 can pick which session they want to attend.

“Kids get to learn the basics of football,” said Ptacek. “The flag camp is the beginning basics of football, where the kids learn to block and throw. They break into positional skills, and play games such as flag football, skill challenges, relay races, and also ultimate football.”

Ryan Strodteeck, of Olmsted Falls, who plays for the St. Mary’s of the Falls Thunderbolts, says he wants to be like former Bulldog standout Tyler Sparks someday. For him, the camp is a way to learn more and be with friends.

“I got to hang out with my friends, but also got to know a lot of other people,” he said. “Playing flag football is the best.”

His friend and teammate at St. Mary’s- Tim May, laughed when asked if he wants to be like Tyler Sparks also.

“No I like Alex Sedley,” he said with a huge grin. “This is so much fun. We get to play football and it was neat meeting Gary Baxter yesterday. He talked to us about what to eat.”

Another camper Jamie Brink, who attends Lincoln Elementary school in Lakewood, said he liked getting to meet the players, but also the camp itself.

“The best part is the ultimate football games,” said Brink. “But the coaches were also very helpful.”

The Equipment camp is a little different than the flag session.

“The kids here get to use shoulder pads and learn every single position and what happens,” said Ptacek. “It helps get the kids interested and ready for the middle school level.”

The Browns are one of about 16 franchises in the 32-team NFL that operates a youth football camp. But what makes the Browns camp unique is the where it takes place, right on the grounds of the Browns Training facility in Berea.

No other NFL team does this, and it gives the youth a great opportunity to not only workout on the same fields as the Browns, but to also interact with team members.

“This is the only NFL camp to be held at the facility of a team, “ said Mark Maruna. “It offers the kids a chance to practice like the players and to see the players working out.”

You might say Maruna is Ptacek’s right hand man, as he helps coordinate not only the camp in Berea, but also the Browns Junior Player Development Camps that run throughout Northeast Ohio each summer.

“We work a lot on teaching team fundamentals and its pretty good for the kids,” said Maruna. “We teach them about the various positions and what they need to know, they do a lot of games, and we also teach life skills, which the kids can apply on and off the field.”

Alexandrou was the assistant coach who spearheaded the effort of teaching and implementing those skills.

“I get to talk with the kids everyday, and have been doing this now for six year with Mike,” he said. “It works out really nice. We have goal setting, we get the parents involved with the kids, and work on things such as responsibility, perseverance, and respect.”

Alexandrou was not the only person to speak to the kids. During the week, so did a number of Browns, including Jason Wright (see feature on  2b) Gary Baxter, Reggie Sanders and Babatunde Oshinowo. Baxter told the kids the value of good health, while the other three veterans answered a number of questions from the youths.

For more information on next years camps, call the Browns at 440-891-5100 or go to the team website at www.clevelandbrowns.com.