Up-and-coming football players learn from elites

February 17, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

When it comes to developing athletic skill, why learn from anyone other than those already at an elite level?

That is the thought process behind Super Elite Football, a football fundamentals program slated to run every Sunday to the end of February at the Aurora Sports Dome.

“By connecting Canada’s top football players from the CFL with the next generation of youth athletes, Super Elite aims to develop the culture and character of Canadian grassroots football,” said owner and founder Nick Burns.

Since starting the program in 2007, Burns has seen his project grow to reach more than 1,000 Canadian youth through ten events each year. Sponsorship deals have come through with big names like Under Armour, Gatorade, and Xbox, and the program has seen the support of CFL stars such as James Yurichuk, Jerome Massam, and Junior Turner.

Burns believes it is these exclusive partnerships with professional athletes that makes Super Elite just that: a super elite program for rising stars.

“No other camp in Canada has the depth of coaching talent and relationships that Super Elite has,” said Burns. “We can provide players with unparalleled knowledge to develop their skills as effectively as possible.”

The list of coaches also includes Brent Weir, the offensive line coordinator for Acadia University, and Bob Rainford, of Rainford’s QB Academy.
This year’s camp, held every year at the Sports Dome, sold out for the fifth year running.

“Our winter program is always one of our busiest,” said Burns. “We have a lot of kids and parents that want to get into it.”

Messam, a 2015 CFL All-Star and a member of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins in 2012, said he was “super excited” to be a part of the program.

“This level of training is really something special. The opportunity for us to interact with the kids and help them build their confidence and football skills is amazing.”