Buffs Host 'Global's Dare To Play Football' Camp
August 16, 2016 | Football, General
Players, coaches bring smiles to camp participants
BOULDER — Saturday afternoon saw the University of Colorado Champions Center Indoor Practice Facility brightened with the smiles and laughs of young children and adults attending "Global's Dare to Play Football Camp With the CU Buffs."
The Buffs are also hosting a "Global's Dare To Cheer With the CU Buffs " camp in conjunction with the football camp. The camps include three practices and a game, to be played Saturday, Sept. 10, at Folsom Field, the same day the Buffs play their home opener vs. Idaho State.
The camps were coordinated by Allie Winter, Health and Wellness manager for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, and Lance Carl, CU Associate Athletic Director for Business Development
It is the first time the Buffs have hosted the event. The program had been run through the Denver Broncos and ex-Bronco Ed McCaffrey for the past eight years.
"We launched the Dare to Play Football camp this year working with the CU Buffs for the first time," said Winter. "We couldn't be more excited to work with our partners in the CU Athletic Department, and they have been wonderful in launching these camps for kids and adults with Down syndrome."
More than 20 youngsters attended the camp, and they ran through several drills controlled and supervised by players from the CU football team. Helping put the plays and drills together was CU director of football operations Bryan McGinnis.
"This event is something that was put together by our administration, who really wanted to do a community partnership," McGinnis said. "With the Global Down Syndrome Foundation it was just a no-brainer win for everyone involved. We owe it to the community to be a part of it and to help people within our community."
The drills included running stretch lines to warm up and agility drills with the bags and pads, along with several tackling drills on pads to give camp participants a true taste of a football practice.
After the drills were completed, it was time to line up and run some plays. After splitting the group in half, Buffs players helped teach camp participants some running and passing plays they will use in their Sept. 10 game at Folsom Field.
One of the Buffs helping set up and run the plays was Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau.
"It means a lot to me to come out here," Liufau said. "It's always great to give back to the kids and it's great to be able to put smiles on their faces."
The day ended after about two hours with a group picture and the excitement that game day will bring.
"We use these camps to help educate people about what people with Down syndrome can do, as well as maybe changing people's views and misconceptions about Down syndrome," Winter said.
The Global Down Syndrome Foundation is dedicated to significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through research, medical care, education and advocacy. Global provides life-changing health and wellness programs for children and adults with Down syndrome, which include the Dare to Play Football and Dare to Cheer Camps with the CU Buffs.
For more information on the Dare to Play Football camp with the CU Buffs, go to www.globaldownsyndrome.org/programs/dare-to-play-football-camp-boulder/. For more information on the Dare to Cheer camps, go to www.globaldownsyndrome.org/programs/cu-dare-to-cheer-camp-boulder/.
