Ten-year-old Sausau Foumai dropped to a three-point stance and stared down his rival.

Instead of shaking with fear at his opponent — a 6-foot-4, 350-pound pro football player — Sausau grinned.

"This is the first time ever I could meet these players," said the starstruck fifth-grader from 'Aiea Elementary School, where three NFL players helped conduct a free clinic yesterday. "I think I could be a good thrower."

Sausau was one of 62 students at the school who earned the chance to participate in a football clinic hosted by the NFL Pro Bowl.

The annual all-star game takes place tomorrow afternoon at Aloha Stadium.

Helping to run drills were Pro Bowl invitee Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins guard and former Kahuku High standout Toniu Fonoti and Jacksonville Jaguars tackle and former University of Hawai'i player Wayne Hunter.

The students who participated yesterday were selected based on their behavior, willingness to learn and performance on the Hawai'i State Assessment test, said principal Ed Oshiro.

'Aiea Elementary, a Title I school where 85 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, was one of six schools visited by Pro Bowl players this week.

The others were Kamaile, Benjamin Parker, La'ie, Holomua and Kalihi Waena elementary schools.

The NFL has held the clinics every year since 2003.

The goal is to teach children the fundamentals of football while instilling valuable life lessons, said Cedric Jones, the senior director of NFL Youth Football.

"We try to use football as the catalyst to promote positive youth development," said Jones, who played for eight years and in one Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. "We teach them about teamwork, respect, cooperation and sportsmanship. And the kids love it."

Jones walked down the row of kids, dressed in T-shirts and slippers, chest-bumping and high-fiving them.

"You guys ready?" he yelled. "All right!"

The kids rotated among four drills on the field, while the rest of the school watched from the sidelines.

They ran blocks, caught passes and learned to defend the ball.

Whenever someone caught a pass, the spectators clapped and cheered.

In one drill 10-year-old Telem Lacadem tore past Hunter and chased Fonoti across the field.

Everyone laughed.

"It's good for these kids to see guys from Hawai'i go as far as the NFL," said Fonoti, who lives part-time in Kapolei. "It gives them hope and makes them realize they can reach for their dreams."

Near the field where the clinic took place is a sign that declares the school's motto — and the theme of yesterday's event: "Where Dreams Begin."

"I hope they learn that anything's possible," Fonoti said. "Where they live, where they're from — that doesn't matter. They can do anything."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.