Queen Creek Elementary (QCE) students had an incredible opportunity to train with the Arizona Cardinals at a youth training camp on campus. This special event, made possible through partnerships between the Arizona Cardinals and Queen Creek Unified School District (QCUSD), gave students a chance to learn football skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship while having a blast with Cardinals players, cheerleaders, and Big Red himself.
Throughout the day, students rotated through fun and energetic drills that got everyone moving. They ran relays, practiced throwing and catching, and tackled padded bags with big smiles on their faces. One QCE fourth grader shared, “We did lots of drills, we jumped over a lot of things. We tackled bags, and we threw the football at each other. My favorite part was jumping off of the block!”
The excitement didn’t stop there as students also had a chance to meet the team’s beloved mascot, Big Red, and even get autographs from Cardinals players. Another student enjoyed the teamwork games, explaining, “We jumped over blocks and did this teamwork game where you try to throw the football into these little circles.”
Events like the youth training camp highlight QCUSD’s ongoing commitment to providing students with hands-on learning experiences that encourage fitness, collaboration, and confidence. The partnership with the Arizona Cardinals gives young learners the chance to see the value of teamwork both on and off the field.
The day ended with high-fives, laughter, and a few future football dreams in the making, proof that when community partnerships and schools come together, amazing things happen for students.