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Offense has taken over the game of football over the last 5 to 10 years and the share numbers that quarterbacks can put up seems to have no bounds.\u00a0 This occurrence has placed even greater emphasis on the position of signal caller in the game and there has developed a need for quality quarterback instruction.\u00a0 That’s where a guy like Ken Mastrole comes in.<\/p>\n
Mastrole runs a Quarterback Instruction Academy based out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where he aims to return fundamentals to the quarterback position.<\/p>\n
“I’ve seen with more and more teams going to the shotgun, combined with limited practice time during the season to teach fundamentals, the quarterbacks that were trained in proper throwing mechanics, weight transfer, and footwork have excelled over those that have not,”\u00a0 said Mastrole.<\/p>\n
Being a quarterback coach was not in the plans for Mastrole who starred as a quarterback at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Ft. Lauderdale.\u00a0 He was highly recruited his senior year receiving interest from the likes of Miami, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Maryland,\u00a0 the school he chose to attend.\u00a0\u00a0 After some up and down years at Maryland,\u00a0 Mastrole transferred to The University of Rhode Island after Maryland switched to an option attack.\u00a0 At Rhode Island, Mastrole passed for over 2,000 yards and 10 TDs his senior year.<\/p>\n
A couple of seasons in NFL Europe and an audition with the Chicago Bears followed but it was in Arena Football where Mastrole had his most success.\u00a0\u00a0 One season,\u00a0 as a member of the Arena league’s Florida Firecats,\u00a0 Mastrole threw an amazing 55 TDs and only 11 interceptions.\u00a0 In a subsequent year,\u00a0 he led the Firecats to the Arena Cup Championship.\u00a0\u00a0 Following his playing career,\u00a0 Mastrole excelled as an offensive coordinator for the Firecats where he directed the leagues’ number one offense,\u00a0 number one quarterback and a trio of 1,000 yard receivers during his four year tenure.<\/p>\n
Having been well traveled in the game of football,\u00a0 Mastrole knew he had something valuable he could offer to young quarterbacks and decided to help out a few kids that he knew.\u00a0 His work became highly regarded,\u00a0 his services well sought after and before he knew it,\u00a0 Mastrole had a full fledged business on his hands.<\/p>\n
“I have a passion for not only teaching but mentoring as well,”\u00a0 Mastrole said.<\/p>\n
Quarterback coaches, camps and academies are multiplying daily like Drew Brees’ passing yards.\u00a0\u00a0 A young quarterback has a lot of choices when looking to get instruction on playing the position but not every QB instructor will help you reach your goals.<\/p>\n
“What separates me from others is the ability to really understand how each individual quarterback processes the information given,”\u00a0 Masrtole explains.\u00a0 “I combine this with teaching not only fundamentals but mental toughness and confidence.”<\/p>\n
Mastrole works with athletes as young as 10 years old and offers instruction to individuals through high school and even some college and pro ready QBs as well.<\/p>\n
The first quarterback he worked with,\u00a0 Tony Paoli,\u00a0 earned a full scholarship to Buffalo University.\u00a0 Currently his academy works with some 125 QBs from inside and outside the state of Florida.\u00a0\u00a0 He holds camps and sessions at his alma mater Cardinal Gibbons High School as well as Ft. Myers,\u00a0 Boca Raton and Lake Worth.<\/p>\n
He also offers evaluations for quarterbacks and contacts college football coaches on behalf of his hard working pupils that display solid talent.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Seeing his students mature into college ready athletes is very rewarding for Mastrole.<\/p>\n
“Seeing guys like Jake Rudock (St. Thomas H.S.), Kenny Mouton (Golden Gate H.S.), Tony Paoli (Buffalo U.), Rafi Montalvo (LaSalle H.S.) and other young quarterbacks making names for themselves.\u00a0\u00a0 I’ve watched Jake (Rudock) grow into an elite quarterback who is now receiving offers from multiple schools,” Mastrole said.\u00a0 “The rewarding part is seeing them excel on the field and in the classroom,” he added.<\/p>\n
Mastrole’s camp sessions take a total approach to developing quarterbacks.\u00a0 He leaves no stone unturned as he tries to develop them into a complete player at the position.<\/p>\n
“I teach from the ground up.\u00a0 Technique based training.\u00a0 We also incorporate the classroom side giving each athlete the entire package,”\u00a0 Mastrole explains.<\/p>\n
He believes that fundamentals are most important to young QBs both in the running game and the passing game.\u00a0\u00a0 He also feels that confidence must be high.<\/p>\n
“Quarterback is a unique position and takes a long time to master,”\u00a0 said Mastrole.<\/p>\n
Mastrole takes a personal approach with his clients.\u00a0 He’s always available by phone.\u00a0 He visits his students practices and games and he also assists in getting them exposure.<\/p>\n
“I go above and beyond when someone decides to invest their time, money and energy into my program,”\u00a0 said Mastrole.<\/p>\n
With Mastrole’s emphasis on teaching from the ground up,\u00a0 it seems that the sky’s the limit for any prospective quarterback taking part in his program.<\/p>\n