Valley Stream football programs come together

They already share their playing field, so why not share some practice time as well? Players from the Green Hornets youth football league teamed up with players from the Central High School football team for a three-day clinic May 31 through June 2.

Central High School varsity football coach Frank Chimenti said the clinic was an opportunity to teach young players the fundamentals of the game. He said for many of the children, the clinic is their first experience with the sport. “First thing,” he said, “we want to make sure the kids have a good time and develop a love of football.”

The young players also got to learn each position, from quarterback, to running back to receiver. Chimenti said it was important to give them a taste of each role on a football team.

Chimenti said the clinic is also an opportunity for Green Hornets and Central High School football players to meet each other. He noted that the Green Hornets is essentially a feeder program for Central.

Bobby Hawkey, a Green Hornets leader, agreed. He noted that many Green Hornets players go on to play football at Central, and both teams share Firemen’s Field. This was the third year the two organizations have hosted the clinic together.

About 100 Green Hornets players participated in the clinic and more than 30 took part in all three days of practice. The Central and Green Hornets players worked for about an hour together each afternoon. Then Central’s athletes continued with their own practice for the 2011 season, while the Green Hornets players worked with league coaches on various skills.

Chimenti said about 45 players from both the varsity and junior varsity teams participated in the clinic. He said he was really proud of his players for how well they worked together with the younger kids.

“They treat them like they’re little brothers,” added Green Hornets Coach Sean Daly, who played football for Central in the 1980s. “They really look out for them.”

Daly noted that the skills and techniques that the players learn at the clinic are the same ones used by professional football players.

Chimenti said the clinics continue the long established relationship between Green Hornets and Central High football. “We just think this is a great opportunity to bring the programs together,” he said. “We even marched in the Memorial Day parade together.”