The St. Louis Rams and Elite Football have partnered to open the NFL’s first youth training academy that will give kids all the tools they need to learn how to play football the Rams way, both on and off the field. Today, the team hosted a Rams Youth Football Camp, featuring the 2013 Rams Rookie Class, to debut the St. Louis Rams Training Academy. (Photos are attached and embedded below.)
The St. Louis Rams Training Academy, a 20,000 square-foot indoor training and development facility in Chesterfield, Mo., is outfitted with state-of-the-art training equipment and video analysis labs. It also includes a turf field, Olympic-style weight room with Rams branded power mats, and a speed track with a laser timing system.
In conjunction with the new facility, the Rams have created a Rams Training Academy Leadership Board, led by Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher. Other members of the Rams Training Academy Leadership Board include: Isaac Bruce, Jack Youngblood, Marshall Faulk, Orlando Pace, Torry Holt, broadcaster Kara Henderson Snead, NFL executive Joe Browne, professional wrestler John Cena, motivational speaker Paul Vitale, ESPN.com contributor Anna McDonald, Elite Football president Matt Biermann and Rams Fan Development Manager Kyle Eversgerd.
The Leadership board members will contribute to the off-the-field curriculum known as the Rams Leadership Program and lead discussions around various leadership characteristics including teamwork, communication, dedication, perseverance, passion and community service.
“The Rams Training Academy represents our deep organizational commitment to youth fitness and character development,” said Brian Killingsworth, vice president of marketing and brand strategy, St. Louis Rams. “We are proud to be the first NFL team to establish a premier facility like this, but just as important to us is our ability to introduce the off-the-field educational components. The Rams Training Academy philosophy aligns perfectly with our organizational philosophy of building winners both on and off the field and will be an outstanding way to engage our next generation of fans.”
The Rams are partnering with Elite Football Academy (EFA) to run the day-to-day operations of the facility. EFA is a year-round skills development program, providing both on-field skills training and off-field classroom preparation. The Rams Training Academy will serve as the headquarters for Heads Up Football seminars throughout the year to improve player safety and football fundamentals.
Other NFL supported programs such as PLAY 60, NFL Flag, NFL Punt Pass & Kick, and High School Player Development will also be emphasized and used in the facility.
This summer, the Rams will kick things off by hosting three weeks of football camps for kids ages 6-14 in mid-July. The Rams will also host one local community organization each month for a free training session as part of the team’s PLAY 60 initiative. In addition, kids will be able to have Rams-themed birthday parties at the facility.
The Rams Training Academy will also include a space for fans to purchase Rams merchandise, apparel and tickets. Furthermore, Rams players, coaches and alumni will make guest appearance throughout the year including autograph signings, coaches clinics and character development seminars.
For more information, please visit www.stlouisrams.com/trainingacademy.
