By CHRISSY SMITH
Slidell sportswriter
SLIDELL — Slidell native and famed Chicago Bears’ running back Matt Forte will be holding an elite training football camp in Slidell on June 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Forte is a graduate of Slidell High and then went on to play for Tulane. He has played for the Chicago Bears since 2008.
Forte’s 1st Annual Free Slidell Youth Camp will be held at the SYFA Field and is open to the first 300 registrants via the online site at LeagueLineUp.com/SYFA. The camp is free and campers will receive football instruction, camp T-shirt, lunch, beverages and awards.
Forte contacted the SYFA in January to set up putting on this camp.
“We think it’s beautiful what he’s doing. The city is going to get involved. The kids are excited. We know Matt played out here, and it’s very wonderful that he’s coming back to give back,”?John Griffin, one of the SYFA leaders, said. “And he’s doing this for free. We’re fired up.”
Forte has partnered with the City of Slidell and the Slidell Youth Football Association to give young athletes a solid foundation of the game and maximize each player’s natural ability. He will lead the campers through conditioning training, route techniques and coverage concepts, with a focus on proper form.
Forte will also be holding a camp at Tulane on Friday, June 8. The cost is $50 per person.
The mutual link between both camps is the mentoring sessions, entitled “Chalk Talks.” Forte will use that time to stress the importance of getting an education, rejecting negative influences and working hard to achieve success in life. During the high school session, Forte and other speakers will talk about successfully navigating college life as a student athlete.
The SYFA?field is located at 3158 Terrace Ave in Slidell. For more info, call Griffin at (985) 474-5486, Hedgemann Carter at (504) 202-0700, Damian James at (504) 390-8153 or Kevin Morgan at (985) 288-8809.
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