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New Virtual Reality Technology Could Redefine Youth Football Instruction

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A virtual reality tool to help football players improve their games will hit the market in the spring. “It’s an educational Madden video game,” said co-founder Brendan Reilly. “Players experience football in real time like in a video game.”

The product called Sidekick is comprised of a headset that players wear while watching a screen on their mobile phone or computer. “It puts you inside a player’s helmet as if you’re a quarterback reacting to a blitz,” Reilly explained.

Primarily being targeted to high schools, Sidekick’s software will cost $39 involving six different positions with former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka the biggest name involved. It can be pre-ordered through Kickstarter, a crowdfunding platform, but will eventually be available in big-box retail stores and through EON Sports’ web site.

“The response has been awesome. This is the most virally efficient generation ever so it has spread fast on social media and the Internet,” Reilly, a former assistant basketball coach at Illinois State, said. “There’s a lot of people out there who want to improve their games and this virtual reality experience is one like no other.”

Reilly, 27, started the Kansas City-based company two years ago but never dreamed the technology would progress this fast. Kickstarter started taking pre-orders a week ago.