2007 Eagles Youth Summer
Football Camp Concludes
June 27th
2007
The future of
the Windham High School Football Program gathered for
three evenings this week to learn the fundamentals of
the game from High School Varsity Coach Matt Perkins, members of his coaching
staff, and current High School Players.
The camp was
attended by players entering 2nd through 8th grades,
divided into two back-to-back sessions by grade. I
mostly observed the first group of 2nd to 5th graders
which included my son.
Each no-pad
session started with the traditional lap around the
field, then lining up in rows every five yards for
stretching. Watching the players line up on the white
lines brought back memories of my brief playing days. I
took comfort in the knowledge I wouldn't need to visit
the trainer on my way off the field this week.
After a brief
team meeting at midfield the players broker down into
three smaller groups, again by age, and cycled through
three stations each night. Each station allowed the
players to receive a great deal of individual
instruction on the fundamentals of football.
I watched as
the players learned to "catch with soft hands" and
receive handoffs, kickoffs and punts. They were taught
the finer points of a three-point stance vs. a two-point
stance, and how to burst out of each stance on the snap
of the ball.
They broke
out the tackling dummies to teach blocking techniques,
and for a brief moment I had the urge to run out to see
how far backwards I could push one of the coaches. Then
I remembered I am old and out of shape and with the
temperatures topping out over 90 degrees I chose to cool
off in my air conditioned vehicle instead. I wonder if
the players were aware how lucky they were the dress for
the camp was t-shirts and shorts instead of helmet and
pads.
The camp
concluded with a two-hand touch game that allowed them
to show case some of the skills they had learned over
the last three nights. The 2nd through 5th grade game
ended on a game winning touchdown to break scoreless
tie.
The next stop
for most of these players will be evening practices in
late August as they prepare for the Windham Youth
Football season where they will match up against other
towns this fall. We will cover all of the fall action on
our
football page.
For more
information visit Windham Youth Football's Website:
www.windhamyouthfootball.com
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