Playing video games to prepare for a football championship? It may sound crazy but not to Game Crazy and the coaches it has teamed up with . Friendly Computers found out that they are donating games and game consoles to help prepare the team. Check it out!
Football Video Games Used As Team USA Coaching Aids for IFAF Junior World Championship
WILSONVILLE, Ore., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- To prepare for the world's best competition in the 2009 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship, USA Football's Junior National Team are employing football video games and game consoles courtesy of national specialty game retailer Game Crazy.
Team USA head coach CHUCK KYLE of Cleveland St. Ignatius High School is utilizing 40 video games and 20 game consoles donated by Game Crazy to help America's team prepare for varying styles of play throughout the IFAF Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio, from June 27-July 5. Team USA's playbook was loaded onto the games to help players better comprehend their assignments during training camp (June 14-25) at Walsh University in North Canton.
USA Football's Junior National Team will represent the United States and compete amongst a field of eight nations spanning four continents in Canton's historic Fawcett Stadium. The tournament field pursuing football's first junior world championship encompasses Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Sweden.
A number of games and consoles will be shared among all IFAF Junior World Championship athletes within the player lounge at Walsh University - the residence and practice home of all eight national teams.
"Preparing for well-coached and talented teams like those we'll see in Canton brings a great challenge," Kyle said. "We appreciate of this donation - these games allow us to accelerate the players' ability to learn the playbook, helping us to hit the ground running in Fawcett Stadium Saturday night."
Game Crazy, with six retail locations in Northeast Ohio, has donated to Team USA 20 copies each of EA Sports' "Madden '09" and "NFL Head Coach '09" video games, which allow for game set-up customization. The retailer has also provided USA Football with Microsoft Xbox 360 consoles. USA Football's coaching staff can now upload upcoming opponents' alignments and formations to help their players learn in-game assignments and responsibilities.
"We're proud to support Coach Kyle and USA Football in this historic tournament," said Game Crazy Chief Marketing Officer CLIFF TORNG. "We congratulate all of the coaches and players who have earned their way to Canton and are pleased to be able to provide them access to the latest in technology and training methodology. Video gaming is not only fun, but has also been shown to help develop and enhance athletic performance across a number of different sports. We look forward to a great tournament in a city whose football heritage and history is unmatched."
USA Football's Junior National Team is composed of 45 incoming college freshmen soon to enter one of 33 universities, including Michigan State, Mississippi, Ohio State, Oregon State, Syracuse, Texas A&M, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Yale. The team is America's first on the junior level (19 and under) in football.
About Game Crazy
Game Crazy(R) (www.gamecrazy.com) is the nation's second largest specialty game retailer with approximately 550 locations across the country. Game Crazy provides customers with a vast selection of game titles, consoles and accessories; terrific value on new, used and trade-in games; and unmatched expertise. Headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon, Game Crazy is owned and operated by Movie Gallery, Inc, which is also the parent company for the Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video brands. Movie Gallery, Inc. is the second largest North American home entertainment specialty retailer with more than 3,700 stores located in all 50 U.S. states and Canada.
About USA Football
USA Football conducts more than 100 football training events annually to strengthen the game on youth and amateur levels. USA Football members - coaches, game officials and league commissioners - reside in all 50 states. The independent non-profit based near Washington, D.C., manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competitions and has provided more than $1.5 million in equipment grants for youth leagues and high school football programs since 2006. USA Football was started by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund. For more, visit usafootball.com.
Website: http://www.gamecrazy.com
Source: http://sev.prnewswire.com/retail/20090622/NE3615822062009-1.html
