Article and Photography by ALICE MARY HERDEN
Challenger K-8 hosted a 4-day Fundamental Football Camp on June 24 during the summer break. Kids from local schools joined Challenger’s football coach Dave Barrett along with several other athletes and coaches: quarterback coach William Colman, Springstead student-athlete Logan Cross, PHSC student Jake Pasmore, Challenger’s physical education teacher and football coach Stephen Scire, volunteer Nick Pasmore and Challenger’s athletic director Ryan Wilson. It was four days of fun in the sun, refining football skills through drills and a flag football tournament.
“Football is a great sport, and when you can teach just about the fundamentals and not always worry about the competition, it’s how you get better,” Coach Dave Barrett said. “Fundamentals are sometimes forgotten, so to come out here in a semi-competitive [environment] is great because they get to work on their own individual skills and get some great coaching.”
The Challenger football field was zoned off in with five different agility stations, dedicated to developing positioned skills for specific positions such as a quarterback, wide receiver, as well as defensive linebacker position.
Campers, from ages five to thirteen, stayed hydrated and had fun learning about football and being part of a team.
“Anytime they can get out to be around other kids, play a sport, learn what teamwork is and just learn how to do little things I think it’s good,” Challenger Athletic Director Ryan Wilson said. “If they leave this camp with learning one thing with whatever position it is they are going to have a foot up from everyone else.”
