NFL Introduces Four New Boot Camps for Current and Former Players

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/18/12

NFL INTRODUCES FOUR NEW BOOT CAMPS FOR CURRENT & FORMER PLAYERS

Franchising, Culinary, Journalism, & Social Entrepreneurship Programs Offered in April & May 2013

NFL Player Engagement Now Offers 10 Post-Career Training Programs in Extended Offseason

Four new boot camps/training modules for current and former NFL players will debut in April and May 2013, it was announced today.  With the longer offseason, NFL Player Engagement now offers current and former players 10 training programs for post-NFL careers.

With input from players, NFL Player Engagement developed the new programs – Franchising Boot Camp, Hospitality & Culinary Management Workshop, Sports Journalism & Communications Boot Camp, and a new Business Management & Entrepreneurship Program at Notre Dame -- with college and university faculty, industry experts, and a trade association to increase the breadth of offerings to assist players in choosing a post-NFL career field.

“We are continuing to take advantage of the expanded offseason to provide current and former players opportunities to explore a wide variety of disciplines and get hands-on experience,” said NFL Vice President of Player Engagement TROY VINCENT.  “Every player someday will make the transition to a career off the field. These programs present a unique opportunity to learn from the best and get exposed to the exciting professional possibilities that lie ahead.”

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback BRADY QUINN and free agent center JEFF FAINE developed with NFL Player Engagement the new NFL Business Management & Entrepreneurial “Investment for Impact” program, which will be held at their alma mater Notre Dame.

“The opportunity to play in the NFL has provided a platform to have an impact on our communities,” said Quinn, a six-year veteran. “It is my hope that through the Notre Dame Entrepreneurial program, attendees may learn how to invest with an impact for the greater good.”

“I’m proud to have had a hand in bringing Investing for Impact to my alma mater, and assisting in forming a partnership between University of Notre Dame and the NFL for the continuing education of professional athletes,” added Faine, who played for four clubs in 10 NFL seasons. “It has been a longstanding goal to give back in a meaningful way to the game that has provided so much opportunity for me.  This course will provide a template on how to bridge traditional business models with a focus on the greater good of humanity.  I believe social entrepreneurship is the wave of the future.”

Following is a schedule of NFL Player Engagement’s 10 offseason career training programs: 

The new Business Management & Entrepreneurship: Investment for Impact program -- presented by Notre Dame’s Stayer Center for Executive Education and the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurship -- will utilize case studies, lectures, and interactive exercises to facilitate learning about financial literacy and analysis, entrepreneurial skills, investing for impact, and business plan development - all critical skills for aspiring entrepreneurs. Leveraging Notre Dame’s unique experience developing social entrepreneurial ventures, this program will teach current and former NFL players how to turn their ideas into sustainable social ventures that apply standard market principals to address a specific social, humanitarian, environmental, or human need.

The NFL Franchising Boot Camp, open to current and former players and their significant others, focuses on the franchising industry and how to take advantage of the resources and business practices franchisors provide to their franchisees. The program will cover the types of businesses that rely on franchising, where to get information about them, how to devise a franchise business plan, what annual and daily operational costs to expect, how to put together a winning team and whether or not franchising is right for each player and spouse.  Carolina Panthers Owner JERRY RICHARDSON, a three-decade restaurant franchisee, will present the keynote at the boot camp which will take place at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, named for Miami Dolphins Owner STEPHEN M. ROSS.

The NFL Hospitality & Management Workshop, hosted at New York City’s award-winning Institute for Culinary Education, will present the fundamental skills required for success in the hospitality and culinary industries.  The workshop will focus on getting a start in the industry and will utilize workshops, lectures, and demonstrations to teach on topics including how to develop a winning concept for your business, trends in the food industry, the economics of hospitality and culinary management, how to manage your product and staff, and return on investment.

The NFL Sports Journalism & Communications Boot Camp, hosted at Bowling Green (OH) State University,will provide aspiring journalists and communications professionals the opportunity to hear the latest from industry leaders while taking part in panel discussions, breakout sessions, field exercises, and concentrated writing labs.  Participants will build their portfolios and receive feedback and mentoring from top sports journalists, communications professionals at college and pro teams, and the Bowling Green faculty. The boot camp features a final assignment covering a Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball game.

Player enrollment criteria include previous participation in NFL Player Engagement programs, prior experience in the boot camp field, essays, and NFL playing experience. 

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