New York Giants alumnus talks to young athletes about safety in Valley Stream

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The Valley Stream Green Hornets hosted a safety clinic for young football players on Aug. 29 at Firemen’s Field to demonstrate how to safely tackle and block without risking head injuries. Former New York Giants punter and two-time Super Bowl champion Sean Landeta attended the event and performed drills with the students and their parents.

“He’s an excellent person — an excellent speaker,” Green Hornets President Bobby Hawkey said of Landeta. “He spoke about how important USA Football is. He came down and helped the kids and had an autograph session at the end of the event.”

The Green Hornets teamed up with USA Football, the sport’s national governing body, Chase Bank and the New York Giants to organize the session for athletes ages five through 15, called “Heads Up Football.” Parents joined in too, performing the safety drill with the players for more than two hours. Players from the Elmont Panthers and Kings County Chiefs participated, and Hawkey estimated that more than 300 people attended.

“Football safety is extremely important,” Hawkey said. “Once the parents are educated on heads up tackling, it helps them understand what their children are doing on the field.”

Ten of Hawkey’s players will be able to stand on the field and greet Giants players prior to the team’s preseason game with the Patriots on Sept. 1.

As his team prepares for its season-opener on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m., Hawkey stressed how important it is to preach safety. “It’s not just older kids, it starts at the youth level,” Hawkey said. “We have to teach them right away how to tackle and block.”