Every practice at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center is observed by a crowd of onlookers offering critiques and encouragement to players.

For most, the experience is entertaining, inspiring or just plain fun. Few would describe it as educational, but that's exactly what 250 high school coaches from Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and North Carolina were able to do on Wednesday.

Taking part in the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation's High School Coaches Clinic, the coaches were treated to a 90-minute seminar led by Redskins general manager Bruce Allen, as well as USA Football's Nick Inzerello, Sr. Director of Football Development, and Andy Ryland, Manager of Football Development.

Doctors from Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitations Center and Bon Secours were on hand to present on concussion awareness and physical therapy.

Following the clinic, coaches were invited to watch training camp practice from the sidelines, getting an up-close vantage point to see the pros in action.

"It was nice to have all the high school coaches out here today," head coach Mike Shanahan said. "I got a chance to talk to them afterwards. They added some spark to our practices and it was sure nice to get them out here."

For Shanahan, this was the opportunity to show appreciation to the coaches that can have the most profound impact on a young players' future.

"Anytime you come to a practice, you're hoping the coaches take a look at one area that they're interested in. They might see a drill, they might see a play they're interested in that hopefully they can take back to their football team," he explained. "I told these coaches, when I started talking to them, how much high school coaches influenced me in my career –  one of the reasons I got into coaching.

"I take a look at my head coach, the offensive and defensive coordinator, my head freshman coach--guys that I kept in contact with through 43 years since I graduated, and they're still part of my life.

"Those type of things are important. I let them know how important they are to the future of our game, and I think they enjoyed themselves today."

All participants will receive lunch, compliments of Papa John's Pizza, and a gift from Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation Centers and the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation.

After practice, Shanahan addressed the group and then introduced quarterback Robert Griffin III, who briefly met with the coaches.

While the assembly was gathered, Redskins great Joe Theismann joined with Robert Geoghan of the Quarterback Club of Washington, to honor Griffin III with the 2012 Sammy Baugh Award, the Redskins Player of the Year award.

The Quarterback Club of Washington was founded in 1965 as a non-profit organization, affiliated with the NFL Quarterback Club.

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