Schwartz: Big Daddy Youth Football Camp Returns To Long Island

By Peter Schwartz
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Last year, Rich "Big Daddy" Salgado was looking for a way to give back to the community.  After playing football for New Hyde Park Memorial High School on Long Island and then moving on to play at the University of Maryland, Salgado decided to use his resources and put together the Big Daddy Youth Football Camp.

Next week, the camp returns to the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, from Monday, June 29 through Wednesday, July 1. The camp, for kids ages 6 to 18, will run from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. each night and will include instruction from current and former NFL players and coaches.

"I grew up here and I've been so fortunate to be working with these professional football players and coaches from all over the country," said Salgado, the CEO of Coastal Advisors LLC, a company that provides life and disability products such as insurance services, estate planning and business planning.

"To give that experience back to the kids who don't have the opportunity to surround themselves with that kind of experience means the world to me," Salgado added. "Because these guys are all donating their time to come out and do this and help children learn how to play the game of football."

Salgado has dipped into his client list, which includes many current and former NFL players and coaches.

Below are some of the guest instructors at the camp…

*Bengals wide receiver and former Rutgers star Mohammed Sanu

*Giants assistant offensive line coach Lunda Wells

*Former Jets safety Erik Coleman

*Former Jets running back Tony Richardson

*Former Steelers and Jets quarterback Neil O'Donnell

*13-year NFL veteran Sean Jones

Guest speakers at the camp will include Mike Quick of MSG Varsity and Giants broadcaster Anita Marks, a former professional female football player.

This year's camp will be run by Salgado's brother, Jim, who is the co-defensive coordinator at Princeton University.

"I am very excited to run my brother's camp this year," said the younger Salgado, who was a three-year starting cornerback at Hofstra University. "We look forward to giving back to the kids in the Long Island community."

At last year's camp, not only did Big Daddy

line up the special coaches and guests, but he was also heavily involved in how the camp was run.  This year, while still lending his name and rolodex to the camp, he's taken a step back and turned the reigns over to his younger brother.

"It means the world to me because he's my youngest brother and he's a guy that grew up in Nassau County," said Big Daddy.  "We're working with kids here on Long Island, so it makes it that more satisfying and we want to give back."

The non-contact camp is all about football, but there are no pads and no helmets needed.  The kids, who don't have to be youth football players in order to participate, will learn the fundamentals of the game and take part in drills, but they'll also be spending a lot of time listening to the coaches and guest speakers.

"The most important message for youth football players is to have fun, give the best that you have every time you step on the field and listen to your coaches," said Salgado, who became the Tigers' co-defensive coordinator in 2013 and helped lead them to the school's first Ivy League title since 2006.

Salgado has also coached at Syracuse, Northeastern, Hofstra, Millersville, Boston University and Western Connecticut.  He's also worked three NFL coaching internships with the Texans, Browns and Panthers. But next week, he'll have the attention of youngsters who are eager to learn from some outstanding instructors.

"I am very excited to be working along with current and former NFL players and coaches," said Salgado. "We will have some of the best out there working alongside our campers and teaching them all the fundamentals of this great game."

Last year, the kids that attended the inaugural Big Daddy Youth Football Camp had a great time and learned the game of football from some big names.  This year should be no different, as the campers will once again be treated to an impressive list of instructors and speakers.

Not bad for a camp that is only two years old.

"I'm excited," said Big Daddy. "We're working at it.  We're really excited about it.  The sky's the limit with it."

The camp is an extraordinary opportunity for youngsters in the Long Island area, regardless of their experience, to learn the game of football from some of the best coaches in the area as well as some past and present NFL players and coaches.

To register your child or for more information, visit the camp's website here.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @pschwartzcbsfan. You can also follow the Big Daddy Youth Football Camp @BDYouthFBCamp and visit the camp's Facebook page here.