43
Marrows’ academy provides training tips
Sessions are set Saturdays to June 4
By CHARLES GROVE
youngstown
Ray Marrow and his nephew Desmond Marrow have found plenty of athletic success over the years. Now the duo hope to provide an environment where they can help the Mahoning Valley’s future athletes flourish.
The “Academy4Athletes” held its first event on Saturday at the 3ThirtyElite Sports Performance Center on East Midlothian Boulevard. The group is open to boys and girls ages 6 and up looking to improve in any sport. The group meets every Saturday through June 4 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per month per child and group discounts are available.
About 25 participants, ranging from ages 6 to 17 showed up Saturday and that number is expected to climb as weeks pass.
The facility has room for indoor and outdoor activities where football players will have room to run routes while baseball players have room to hit and catch.
The purpose of the camp, according to Ray Marrow, serves multiple purposes. They wish to keep children in shape and improve their athletic performances while also focusing on building leadership and character.
“We’re trying to teach the kids respect as well as the benefits of working hard,” Youngstown State running back Roosevelt Griffin said.
The incoming Penguin transfer and Cardinal Mooney state champion is one of many athletes helping run the camp.
“You’ve got to work for everything you want and hopefully this is a way to teach these kids some life lessons while they also have fun,” Griffin said.
Desmond Marrow had stints in the NFL with the Houston Texans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Other coaches include former Pittsburgh Steeler Braylon Heard, former East and Kent State quarterback Sal Battles and local soccer All-American Kiki Wallis.
Ray Marrow enjoyed a professional football career in Arena, Arena2 and the National Indoor Football League. He also played in Europe professionally.
The motto of the camp is “We don’t believe in sitting on the bench. We live in the game!” and Marrow said he believes that mindset, along with proper technique, is a key to athletic improvement no matter what your current skill level.
“I had a young man come up to me and shake my hand after today and thank me because his football coach is more concerned with developing his more fortunate players,” Marrow said. “His coach always looks past him but I’ll stop drills and show everyone the proper technique. We want to make everyone the best they can be.”
While there may be time for pep talks in between agility and strength drills, not a moment of time is wasted during the two and a half hours. When drills aren’t being run, Marrow or one of the other coaches provide pep talks during cool down sessions, making sure the athletes stay engaged.
“They’re focused the entire time they’re here,” Desmond Marrow said.
Education and family are reiterated to the athletes often during the camp. Ray Marrow stresses the importance of success in the classroom above sports in his four-tier ranking he communicates to campers.
“It’s God first, family second, teachers third and then sports,” he said. “You can’t go anywhere without teachers.”
Professionalism goes hand in hand with his system, stressing the idea that just because some stars are professional athletes by getting paid to play sports doesn’t make them professional human beings.
“We’re pros and by that we mean we’re professional,” Marrow said. “Just because you’re in the NFL doesn’t mean you’re a professional. You’re not a pro if you’re getting into fights on the field or driving drunk. We’re professional in every sense of the word.”
For more information, call the 3ThirtyElite Sports Performance Center at 330-729-5945.