Barack Obama threw a winning touchdown pass as he joined delighted kids for football and softball practice at the Nationals Youth Academy in DC on Wednesday.

The former president, 57, joined the youngsters at the after-school program for children between the ages of eight and 13.

Video from the event shows Obama high-fiving budding sports stars and telling them: 'You guys are going to make a real difference, we're going to be really proud of you.'

In footage from the event Obama can be seen playing football with a group of excited children before trying his hand at softball and making it to second base.

Barack Obama threw a winning touchdown pass after joining delighted kids for football and softball practice at the Nationals Youth Academy in DC on Wednesday

In footage from the event Obama can be seen celebrating his winning pass

Barack also told the youngsters they would go onto great things in a pep talk

At one point he asks: 'Who is the quarterback here?' before throwing the ball to fifth grader Steven Osborne.

The 10-year-old makes the catch as Obama shouts 'good job' and celebrates his winning touchdown pass.

Steven told People: 'He threw it strong, but it kinda wasn’t straight. The guys jumped on me. I heard Barack Obama say "Where’s my man?" And he said "good job" and he helped me up.'

At the end of the clip Barack can be heard telling the youngsters they would go onto great things in a motivational speech.

He said: 'You know when I see what you guys are doing, I think everybody here, if you guys work hard, work hard in school, listen to your coaches, you guys are going to do great things.

'So I'm going to be on the lookout for you because I think you're going to do something important. You guys are going to make a real difference, we're going to be really proud of you.'

Footage also shows him trying his hand at softball and making it to second base

The former president joined the youngsters at the after-school program for children between the ages of eight and 13. Video from the event shows Obama high-fiving budding sports stars

He tells the youngsters they would go onto great things in a motivational speech

Following practice Obama tweeted: 'Great to get out there and take a few cuts at the plate yesterday—I had a blast with all these extraordinary young people.

'Thanks for letting me drop in and thanks to the Nationals Youth Academy for the outstanding work you do to support youth in DC.'

The academy tweeted: 'Yesterday, President @BarackObama visited #NatsAcademy to play games with our students & shop the farmer's market.

'The Academy uses baseball & after-school enrichment to foster character development, academic achievement, and improved health among underserved youth in D.C.'