From June 15-17 the Avery Vikings football staff and around a dozen players, in conjunction with the Avery Parks and Recreation Department, worked with around 30 youngsters at MacDonald Stadium during this year’s Avery Youth Football Camp.
Despite periods of inclement weather, campers were able to learn skills and useful principles about the game of football, as well as valuable lessons about how similar lessons, like teamwork and striving to be successful, can apply beyond the football field and in everyday life.
Camp staff worked to help youths develop in several specific skill areas, using drills to hone campers’ speed, line stance, strength, footwork, agility, and technique. Abiding with recent tradition, campers were also treated to popsicles from the staff in appreciation for their efforts.
“I think the kids have had a lot of fun. That’s what we always strive for,” Avery head football coach Darrell Brewer said regarding the camp. “Of course you always want to have as many kids as possible be part of the camp, but the biggest thing for us with the kids that are here is that we want them to leave our camp with a genuine love for football and having a lot of fun.”
For the first time, the camp was held on the synthetic surface at MacDonald Stadium, which prevented muddy conditions or any cancellations due to the recent rainy weather endured by the High Country.
“It took the least time to prepare for the camp, that’s for sure,” Coach Brewer added. “In the past, we’ve had to take several hours to find paint and mark the field. It only took about 45 minutes for setup this year, and it’s been awesome.”
One by-product of the camp is that not only do the campers absorb knowledge and love for the game, but the high school players who volunteer to work the camp get to serve as role models and also brush up on their own skill sets.
“To the youngsters, watching these high school players is like watching college players. They’re bigger than life, and the kids really enjoy our players being out here, It’s also good for our high school players to be put in a position where they are teaching,” Coach Brewer explained.
“They hear so much from us as coaches, it’s good for them to be on the other side of things and pass those principles on to the younger generation. It helps them learn a little more and makes the players think a little more about what they’re doing, and is really a win-win situation for everybody involved.”
A number of high school players who helped with this year’s camp, including Ethan Hagie, Hunter Shields, Taylor Potter, Lane Smith just to name a few, were once in the shoes of the youths who were being taught. Their presence served as proof positive of the effectiveness and long-range impact that each year’s camp has on
“Several of our players were once campers here, and it’s great seeing them giving back to the campers today,” Coach Brewer added.
The youth football camp was one of several different sports camps being held for children throughout this summer. For more information on camps taking place this summer, check out the Journal-Times Sports Blog at www.ajtsports.blogspot.com or contact Avery Parks and Recreation at 733-8266.
