NFL Star Darrell Green Le...

NFL Star Darrell Green Leads Football Clinics for DCHA Youth

The summer heat was no match for the excitement generated by the dynamic football clinics hosted by NFL Hall of Famer Darrell Green exclusively for DC Housing Authority (DCHA) youth.

In partnership with the Green Family Foundation and the Washington Commanders, DCHA held two one-day football clinics where the former Commanders cornerback worked directly with DCHA youth. These events, which were exclusively for DCHA youth ages 7- to 18-years-old, marks the second year that DCHA, the Green Family Foundation and the Commanders have hosted this program.

The clinics provided fun-filled days for DCHA's young athletes, focusing on football fundamentals, footwork, and drills. In addition to flag football, participants enjoyed a variety of activities, including music, face painting, a moon bounce, a video game truck, and a water slide.

Fifty young athletes joined the July 14 clinic at the Benning Terrace Recreation Center.

On July 23, the football clinic welcomed more than 90 kids to the King Greenleaf Recreation Center.

At the clinics, Green is an active coach, offering encouragement and guidance. While the focus of each event focuses on physical fitness, the drills and flag football games help DCHA youth develop important skills like teamwork, sportsmanship, cooperation and communication. Families were also in attendance, along with the Commanders' mascot, Major Tuddy, also helped coach the kids and posed for pictures with residents.

Green is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and played 20 seasons as a cornerback for Washington. He is widely regarded as both one of the best cornerbacks of all time and one of the fastest players in the league's history. A DCHA partner, the Green Family Foundation is a youth-centered nonprofit that leads youth engagement programming for DCHA families. The organization previously led a visit to Commanders training camp, among other activities, and Green has often joined other DCHA Office of Resident Services events in support of DCHA interns and apprentices.

The football clinics are also part of the Commanders' commitment to strengthening the local communities that form their dedicated fan base. The team has previously worked with schools and other programs to support youth in the DMV. Learn more about the program with Sports Illustrated in this article.