MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins through their Junior Dolphins program have a strong commitment to youth players and coaches to teach, learn and play football in a fun and safe environment. The organization this offseason showed that commitment by impacting 119 high school and youth teams and more than 5,000 student-athletes, coaches and parents through its initiatives.

"Each year, the Junior Dolphins continues to expand its reach across South Florida to support the coaches, student-athletes and parents in our community and find ways to help them succeed both on and off the field," Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs Jason Jenkins said. "Programs like this are important to the Dolphins as we look to celebrate and grow the game of football year-round."

"The Dolphins have consistently done a phenomenal job engaging youth and high school participants, parents, coaches, and Legends. The South Florida football community is better because of their efforts," NFL Vice President of Youth & High School Strategy Roman Oben said.

The Junior Dolphins program encourages youth players and coaches to teach, learn and play football in a fun and safe environment. The Junior Dolphins program is designed to give kids access to learn the fundamentals of football using the NFL's top resources. To grow the game, the Junior Dolphins program will work to educate coaches, parents and youth on the health and safety of football with a strong emphasis on character development. Junior Dolphins is building the next generation of Dolphins Fans.

Team Visits

As part of the Miami Dolphins' commitment to the development of high school and youth football, the team invited 26 high school and youth teams and more than 1,000 student-athletes and coaches from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties to the team's organized team activities, minicamp and training camp practices. The team visits are a targeted effort to recognize, inspire and increase football participation through personal connections centered on the positive character building aspects of playing the game. Since 2017, the Dolphins have hosted 93 teams and more than 4,000 student-athletes.

High School Media Day

In August, the Dolphins hosted 100 teams and more than 1,200 student-athletes and coaches from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties at their seventh annual High School Media Day at Hard Rock Stadium. The event is designed to develop high school athletes off the field with media training and interview experience. High School Media Day also is catered to South Florida media, giving them an opportunity to interview and interact with the rising stars in the region.

Equipment Donations

As part of the Junior Dolphins Donation Program, the team surprised eight teams and over 450 student-athletes with new football equipment to help them prepare for the upcoming season. The teams received more than 1,800 pieces of equipment, including Dolphins branded footballs, Gatorade coolers, sleds, blocking shields medicine balls and cleats.

Baptist Health Foundation

On the first day of training camp, the Miami Dolphins Foundation announced a pledge of $1.5 Million to Baptist Health Foundation in support of Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute's Youth Athletic Outreach Program. The significant and wide ranging commitment around the health and safety of South Florida students, coaches and parents was made at the Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University.

Free Youth Football Clinics

The team also organized a series of free football clinics around South Florida, leading participants through fundamental drills. In February, the Dolphins hosted a Gatorade Junior Training Camp at the Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University for over 100 participants, teaching football specific drills as well as heat and hydration safety to middle school athletes. Members of The City of Miami Gardens Parks and Recreation athletic program, Broward County PAL, Miami-Dade County PAL, Palm Beach County PAL and the American Youth Football League were invited by the Dolphins to participate in the event. In March, the team hosted free football clinics in Parkland and Liberty City for 153 campers as part of the Junior Dolphins Spring Break Camps.

Coaches Clinic

In April, the Miami Dolphins hosted more than 800 local youth and high school coaches at their fourth annual Coaches Clinic presented by Nike and supported by Ephesus Sports Lighting and Gatorade at Hard Rock Stadium. Coaches from Charleston Southern University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Miami and St. Thomas University taught 33 different classroom and on-field sessions focused on game and practice techniques, motivational tools and core football competencies. Miami Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores welcomed the participants prior to the breakout sessions.

Nike 11-ON

In June, the Miami Dolphins hosted a Nike 11-ON initiative, a scholastic-based, team-oriented, character-building program for 16 teams and more than 390 student-athletes. The 11-On initiative supports scholastic high school football team competition that focuses on building transferable life skills while also creating an alternative to individual all-star formats. The 11-On programming is a unique endeavor that focuses on team play over individual recognition and provides development for all 11 athletes on both sides of the ball.

Dolphins Flag Football League

In June, the Miami Dolphins hosted the inaugural Dolphins Flag Football League presented by Nike. Each Tuesday evening, 16 teams girls flag teams and 220 student-athletes representing high schools in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties played two games at the Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University.

Girls Flag Football Jamboree

The Miami Dolphins hosted the Girls Flag Football Jamboree presented by Nike at the Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University. The event, in partnership with the Broward County Athletic Association (BCAA), featured 27 high school girls flag football teams and 495 student-athletes from the South Florida area.

Mom's Clinic

In July, Miami Dolphins hosted their second mom’s clinic for 147 parents of the Miami XTreme Youth Football League at Doral Legacy Park. The clinic provided parents with information and included a discussion on concussion awareness and protocol, heat, hydration, sports injuries, equipment fitting, CPR and interactive drills that demonstrated proper Heads Up Football tackling techniques.

Pop Warner Award

The Miami Dolphins were presented in May with Pop Warner’s 2019 NFL Team of the Year Award, given annually to a franchise that has demonstrated commitment and support of their community and youth. Pop Warner Little Scholars is the nation's oldest youth football, cheer and dance organization and the only one with established academic standards.