The best way to get a leg up on the competition is to get a head start.
Monday through Thursday this week kids from grades fourth through ninth are being furnished a chance to grab an early edge in the fourth annual Fayetteville Bulldogs Football Camp and Strength and Conditioning Camp.
The football camp is open to kids grades fourth through ninth and is being held at Harmon Field in Fayetteville. It begins at 8 a.m. each day and ends at 11: 30 a.m. Kids can still register this morning. The cost will be prorated form the original $ 90 camp fee.
An afternoon strength and conditioning camp also began Monday. It's open to kids grades sixth through ninth and the cost will be prorated for participants who sign up today. Children can sign up for both camps today as well at a prorated fee. The afternoon camp begins at 12: 30 p.m. and ends at 3: 30 p.m.
"We want every kid to walk away every day saying'I picked up something new that's going to make me a better football player, '"Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. "We want them to pick up things that are going to make them better young men and better people. "
Monday the campers worked on stretching and agility warm-ups. Then the campers broke into offensive and defensive groupings for an hour. Participants were also measured in the 40-yard dash and shuttle tests.
"We work hard on quarterback mechanics," Patton said. "Offensive and defensive lines, running backs, linebackers, secondary - the little things at each position that make kids better ball players - we work very hard with drills and fundamentals. We had 14 quarterbacks out there and all of them showed some good qualities."
Today the variation in the itinerary will feature 45 minutes each of offensive and defensive stations. After that the staff will conduct a class on fast-break football and the campers will play one game.
Wednesday the campers will see more fast-break football and Thursday, they will be tested in punt, pass and kick.
The staff lauded the play of Dylan Hale, who will an eighth grade running back at Ramay this season. Hale ran the fasted 40 time of the day with a jaunt of 4. 94.
Chad Holmes, Lewis Diesel, Josh Hale and Hayden Downs all received a camp jersey for standout effort and attitude.
The strength and conditioning camp, conducted by FHS defensive line coach Mark White, provided a chance for kids to learn the proper and safe techniques of weightlifting. The camp also stressed flexibility, plyometrics and nutrition.
Thursday's itinerary will feature an obstacle course devised to tie in all the week's learning.
"It's hard work but they learn so much that they take with them," Patton said. "We're not worried about how much they lift but that they do it the correct way.
"We give them the proper running form and we talk about the importance of explosion. We also give them tips on how to safely gain and lose weight. And we incorporate all that in one week. It's a very busy camp."
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