Football is going overseas this summer to China as a part of the Student Athlete Experience (SAE), an academic and athletic camp that "aims to bridge the gap between the classroom and the field."
One of the first camps to focus on American-Football in China, SAE will feature nine former college and professional football players who will coach the camp, including co-directors Chris Barrett ('07) and Joseph Krassenstein ('15), both USC alums.Barrett was a defensive tackle from Tustin and Krassenstein, who was a walk-on, is from Shanghai, China. Both men have had experience playing and coaching the game in China.
Krassenstein and Barrett (pictured) will be joined by a few more former Trojans on the coaching staff: DaJohn Harris, Will Poole, Kevin Ellison, and Sandy Fletcher. With six of the nine coaches from USC, the Trojans will have their fingerprints all over this camp.
American-Football is rapidly growing in China, popping up in many cities already, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The camp will aim at the children growing as football players while balancing the rigor of academics. The Student-Athlete Experience Camp's long term goal is to allow talented students to study abroad at schools in Southern California, with the help of Barrett's knowledge and connections to the schools.
The camp will take place this summer from July 14-31 at the Skyway American-Football Academy, a program dedicated to preparing the next generation of Chinese athletes. In addition to partnering with the academy, SAE was approved by the NFL as a "Play 60" initiative, focused on getting children to play and exercise for 60 minutes every day.
