The Blue Board

Press Release from IMG on its Championship and Cam

BRADENTON, Fla. (March 20, 2012) – Today IMG Academies announced it has teamed up with Carolina Panthers QB and 2011 NFL Rookie-of-the-Year Cam Newton for its second annual IMG Madden 7-on-7 National Championships to be held June 29-July 1, 2012 on the IMG Academies campus.

Newton, who has previously spent time training at IMG Academies, will come to the campus on different terms this time, as he looks to advance the youth initiative at the core of his Cam Newton Foundation. Together with the IMG Madden Football Academy, Newton will run a skills event – the Cam Newton Skills Challenge at the IMG Madden 7-on-7 National Championships – on Friday, June 29, the first day of the national tournament.

“I am very excited about this event, which I hope will set the tone for a weekend of fun and intense competition at the IMG Madden Football Academy,” said Cam Newton. “Looking back at the opportunities available to me as a young player, I always looked forward to the healthy competition at these types of events. What really stood out for me though were camps that had a festive, entertainment-driven theme that raised the energy and excitement around the competition. I am planning to apply these lessons to the Cam Newton Skills Challenge with the support from the team at IMG Madden Football Academy.”

Participation in the Cam Newton Skills Challenge at the IMG Madden 7-on-7 National Championships is open to both 7-on-7 competitors and outside players, though registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Challenge is designed for skill-position players who will receive position-specific training and evaluation from Cam Newton and the team of IMG Madden coaches, many of whom have played or coached in the NFL.

“We are looking forward to introducing this unique offering by Cam Newton to our IMG Madden 7-on-7 National Championships,” said Chris Weinke, Director, IMG Madden Football Academy. “The Cam Newton Skills Challenge will add an extra level of excitement and fun for participants who have earned the opportunity to compete in this national event. The addition of the Skills Challenge is a testament to the growth and continued enhancement of our 7-on-7 platform for high school athletes.”

The registration fee for the Cam Newton Skills Challenge is $199 and includes an invitation to the IMG Madden 7-on-7 National Championships Welcome Reception later that evening. For more information or to register, please visit: http://www.imgmadden7on7.com

About IMG Academies
IMG Academies, a division of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, is the world’s largest and most advanced multi-sport training and education complex dedicated to developing the TOTAL ATHLETE™. For more than 30 years, IMG Academies has helped countless youth, adult, collegiate and professional athletes reach their full potential in sport and life, by providing expert coaching, tailored programs and world-class facilities across a 450-acre campus.

Today the Bradenton, Fla.-based campus attracts 20,000 athletes from nearly 100 countries annually. The Academies consists of the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy and adjacent IMG Academies Golf & Country Club, IMG Madden Football Academy, IMG Baseball, Basketball, Lacrosse and Soccer academies – all supported by the IMG Pendleton School and IMG Performance Institute’s multi-faceted training disciplines. IMG Academies also conducts camps, clinics and events year-round, while providing support to teams and federations around the world. Find more info at http://www.imgacademies.com .

About the Cam Newton Foundation
The Cam Newton Foundation is committed to enhancing the lives of youth by addressing their social, physical, educational and emotional needs. The Foundation strives to emphasize the importance of making education a priority on a daily basis by addressing the barriers that impede the learning process. The Cam Newton Foundation also recognizes physical fitness as a vital element of comprehensive youth development and its relationship to leading a well-rounded and fulfilling life.

The Elite 11, which I believe is tonight in Dallas, will feature Max Browne and other top players at Cowboys Stadium.

Working in Vegas...Tough life, JC

Is there a list/link for the teams participating at IMG? One of our partners is reffing it again and I'm curious.

Looking forward to hearing how Tyrone Swoopes performs at the elite 11 camp.

IMG camp always is stocked with 3 stars you can't believe are three stars. Great place to scout.

Honestly, I've done Vegas for camps/tournaments before and there's so much work you don't get to play much at all. It's early mornings on those fields and as soon as things are over, you head right back home to enter in the data and write a bunch of updates.

We're lucky to have guys like JC and Justin going. I've been with other guys that I wouldn't let go back to Vegas because they couldn't handle the work first, second, third and fourth/play fifth balance you need for those events.

50 yards from knees and 80 yards regular throe... best arm in the country! Shane morris

Impressive no doubt, but once the knee is down the play is dead.

Is there a preview for the Elite 11?

I think last year they had a thread with live updates and then a write-up at the end of each day.