Arizona Cardinals Continue Football Camps for Youth

November 18, 2022

Kyle Knox

Managing Editor

To get Community youth active again, the Arizona Cardinals hosted football camps at Gila Crossing Community School, Casa Blanca Community School, and the District 4 ball field in Oct. and Nov. 

The camps were made possible through the partnership with the Arizona Cardinals and Gila River Resorts & Casinos (GRRC). The camp curriculum follows the NFL’s “Play 60” campaign that provides outreach focuses on healthy activity throughout the Valley and tribal communities. 

Manuel Hernandez, Public Relations Coordinator for the GRRC, said, “It’s all about the kids and getting them out and back into an active routine.” 

The partnership with the Arizona Cardinals and their Play 60 outreach has developed immensely over the years. Hernandez is pleased to see it continue in the Community after the pandemic

The evolving partnership includes the Arizona Cardinals hosting flag football teams from the Community to play during regular season halftime shows. 

Drawing several youths to participate, the camps taught the fundamentals of football, team-work, and sportsmanship. The camps challenge Youth to complete various football drills that test their coordination with passing and catching. While others test their endurance by running through drill stations where they must jump, dodge, and communicate with other participants. 

At the Casa Blanca Community School camp, Rex Desvaristes, Manager of Youth Football for the Arizona Cardinals, said, “These camps help get the children active and build a healthy life-style. Now that schools are back in session, we have a chance to instill a healthy, active life-style and build healthier communities overall.”

Desvaristes and his team worked with 100 youth at the Casa Blanca camp. As a bonus to working with the Arizona Cardinals trainers and mascot “Big Red,” students received an Arizona Cardinals drawstring backpack and water bottle as part of their participation for the day.