USFootyKids launches new instructional DVD

March 13 – 16 saw AAHPERD bring their national conference to the Baltimore Convention center. Conveniently located just 10 minutes walk from Denis’ house, it was the perfect location to launch our new instructional DVD.

After initially giving the convention center laborers an arm for carrying my booth set up all of 50 yards to my location and finding out that it wasn’t enough, I begrudgingly gave them a leg as well. Slightly inhibited by my loss of limbs, it took me a little longer than expected to set up but we managed to get it done by opening time

 
^{Denis and Jorbie manning Ego Alley}

For the next three days I was joined by fellow Aussie mates Jorbie Clark and Shane Frearson, along with former Baltimore PE teacher John Sturm, in coercing PE teachers from all over the country into checking out the USFootyKids booth as they walked on by. Slightly intimidated by the Aussie assault, yet mildly enamored by the downunder accent, before they knew it they were walking away with a free copy of the new DVD.

Designed to help teachers conduct their first lesson before referring them to all the recourses on the USFootyKids website, this instructional DVD should be the perfect tool to start teaching this fantastic game.

If you would like a free copy, click here http://www.usfooty.com/usfooty/form.aspx?form=KidsDVDGiveAway&menu=usfootykidsmenu

With the DVD on continuous loop it didn’t take long for Jorbie to nickname the booth Denis’ Ego Alley and give me a good old Aussie ribbing for the rest of the week. I have to say that after three days of hearing my own voice again and again, I too was wishing the convention center employees had settled for my tongue instead of my limbs! My heartfelt apologies to the booths on either side of me!

In all seriousness, I usually have to man the booth on my own and it was awesome to have the boys help me out and give me a rest and time to check out the other booths. I can see how annoying it can be for teachers to be pitched at by each booth as they walk on by, but it’s pretty tough for us to say the same things again and again all day, no matter how much we love our chosen sport. I don’t enjoy the selling part of what I do and would much rather conduct a clinic or in-service day, but it’s the nature of the beast and what you have to do.

In addition to the help, the highlight of the week was having dinner with Bob Fox, Roger and young 14 year old stacking wiz, Jeff, from Speed Stacks. Although our sports are very different, many of our goals, including getting kids active, are similar and it was great to sit down and swap stories about our respective journeys. Bob’s business is doing great, but it hasn’t come about without lots of hard work and some - initial - huge financial risks. He is a trailblazer and an inspiration and is a great example of what you can do when you see the benefits a sport can bring and then put some faith into it.

With people like Bob showing the way and a fantastic game and program to promote, things are looking bright for the future of footy in the US.

Denis Ryan
USFootyKids National Coordinator
usfootykids@usfooty.com
Ph: 443 829 4188
Fax: 410 727 6803

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