Chris Lawson of the Capital City, Springfield IL, Outlaws was the opening speaker and talked about
the "Use of Personnel on Offense." He also added concepts relating to player development with specific sharing of his experiences in developing a Quarterback. Chris recently spoke at the Coaches Clinic held in Las Vegas, Nevada in conjunction with the Casino Bowl. Coach Lawson has coached in several Casino Bowl games put on by National Football Events.

Craig Ochoa was recently inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame as an official and spoke on the "Role of Officials in semi-pro football. Craig has experience from youth football all the way through the NFL. He compared the rules and mechanics used around the nation in officiating football and included his personal experiences. All future clinics will emphasize rules and officiating as an essential element of coaching development.

Keith Hac, new head coach of the Kane County, IL, Eagles spoke on "Two Minute Defense." Keith features several coverage packages and blitz package defenses that he has used in the past in the last two minutes of the first half or at the end of a game. Keith demonstrated a philosophy of using specific personnel pass rush and cover situations in his nickel and dime packages.

Jim Nugent of National Football Events spoke on the development of a passing game. He is a proven clinic speaker who spoke at a clinic in Canton Ohio several years ago and again at the Casino Bowl Clinic in Las Vegas. Coach Nugent coached the DuPage Eagles in back to back National Championships in 1991 and 1992. He focused on fundamental development of
quarterbacks, receivers and running backs in the passing game. He pointed out the progression
necessary to build a sound passing game through teaching specific skills and techniques and evaluating football players.

Gerry Grohn, formerly of the Force of Illinois, complimented Coach Nugent's development of a
passing game by speaking on the "Development of a Rushing Offense." Coach Grohn was also recently inducted into the AFA Hall of Fame and has clinic speaking experience in Canton Ohio and in Las Vegas Nevada. Coach Grohn went through various blocking schemes and the development of sequence in play selection. He spoke of specific base plays and the sequence of other plays resulting from the base plays.

Coach Ed O'Reilly of the New Jersey Rams, DuPage, IL, Eagles and Kane County, IL, Eagles spoke on "The Misdirection and Trapping Game." Coach O'Reilly is also a member of the AFA Hall of Fame and brought his expertise on how offenses move the football through the elements of offensive deception, taking advantage of a defense, neutralizing a defense and reducing
defensive pressure. Coach O'Reilly focused on scripting plays and utilizing scouting of opponents.

Coach John (J. T.) Wilson of the Fort Wayne, IN, Freedom spoke on special teams and gave specific examples of every special team and demonstrated the teaching techniques and philosophy of each unit. Coach Wilson has coached in several national all star games on defense and in special teams. He illustrated examples of how important special teams are to the
success of a football team and showed in great detail how to develop a special team's package.

The final speaker was Doug Tibbitts of the Grand Rapids Huskies who spoke on "Adjusting the 4-3
Defense." Doug has coached in five of the last nine Casino Bowl games and was a speaker at the last clinic in Las Vegas. Coach Tibbitts showed how to make adjustments on defense to take advantage of offensive blocking schemes and place defensive personnel in favorable position. He illustrated variations of the 4-3 defense and commented on personnel and players in his system.

Midwest Football Clinic Director, Greg Skowronski commented on the high quality of the speakers and how coaches learn from each other. Coach Skowronski is also an AFA Hall of Fame member and has coached three different teams in six National Championship Games with the Chicago Lions, Chicago Chargers and DuPage Eagles. Plans are underway to for Skowronski to conduct a 'National' AFA Semi-Pro Football Coach's Clinic in Sarasota Florida in conjunction with the AFA
Hall of Fame induction in December.

Coach Skowronski is working with the AFA on developing criteria for coach's certification in semi-pro football. The Midwest Football Clinic was the first ever certification clinic in semi-pro history. Other criteria may include coaching experience, participation in events at a national level, clinic speaking and attendance and even a test which would evaluate knowledge of football
offense, defense, special teams, rules and general topics relating to coaching.