NFLPA to Host "Business of Football: Rookie Edition" for Incoming Rookie Class

Event to take place at IMG Academies, one of world's largest sports training and education complexes

BRADENTON, Fla., June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The NFL Players Association announces it will host the "Business of Football: Rookie Edition" seminar June 28-29, 2011 at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla. The event is open only to players drafted during the April 2011 NFL Draft and will focus on financial planning, media and other subjects to prepare rookies for their professional football careers.

"The NFLPA strives to provide players with substantive experiences that help them succeed both on and off of the field," said Jason Belser, NFLPA Senior Director of Player Services and Development. "We are thrilled to work with IMG Academies to create an environment for these young men to embark on their transition to becoming professionals."

"We share in the NFLPA's mission to prepare athletes for the next stage in life by providing them the resources they need to succeed and realize their potential. At IMG Academies, we refer to this as the TOTAL ATHLETE approach to development," said Trevor Moawad, Director, IMG Performance Institute. "We are looking forward to working with the NFLPA to host this important educational seminar for rookies, as we feel our world-class facilities and staff resources will create an exceptional learning environment for these young players."

The IMG Performance Institute and IMG Madden Football Academy oversee the professional football training program, which provides players with not only on-field training but also access to mental conditioning, physical conditioning, vision training, nutrition, communications and media training, life skills and physical therapy. Participating rookies in the "Business of Football" seminar will hear from industry experts including IMG performance experts, and will have access to IMG's facilities and staff resources for the duration of their stay.

About the NFLPA

The NFLPA is a professional association under Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. The objectives of the Association are: to improve the business conditions of professional football players in the National Football League, including enhancing, protecting and defending their right to contract by attacking, legally challenging and/or eliminating any limitations or restrictions on the right to freely contract for services as professional football players; to create opportunities for players to enhance off-the-field income during their playing careers and after their retirement from football; and to enable and encourage players to engage in charitable and civic activities to benefit their communities.

About IMG Academies

IMG Academies, located in Bradenton, Fla., 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 within an energetic environment across a 400-acre campus.

Today the campus attracts more than 20,000 athletes from 100 countries annually. The Academies consists of the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy, 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 www.imgacademies.com.  

Media Contact:
Kim Berard, IMG Academies, [email protected], 941-752-2621
Carl Francis, NFLPA, [email protected], 202-756-9100

* Further Details Regarding Media Access and Availability Will Be Forthcoming *

SOURCE NFL Players Association; IMG Academies