Youth football camp prepares kids for gridiron

  The 2022 Weiser Youth Football Camp is currently under way at the Weiser High School practice facility.

 The camp, put on by the Weiser Recreation Department, is designed for third through sixth grade athletes. Players hit the field on Monday, Aug. 1 at 6:30 p.m., with instruction and drills running to approximately 8:30 p.m. The non-contact camp wraps up Thursday, Aug. 4. 
 Weiser High School coaches and players, as well as Weiser Middle School coaches, are conducting the camp under the direction of WHS varsity head coach Tom Harrison.
 “We are helping the kids with their fundamentals,” Harrison said. “We want that to be the major focus, but we also want to help them know that there is more than just fundamentals, especially when it comes to tackle football, such as the organization of a team, teamwork, and so forth.”
 Harrison said that success at the high school level, in part, begins with youth players and their coaches.
 Supporting Harrison during this year’s camp are coaches Drew Dickerson, Mike Jones, Jeremie Wall, and Brian Strausser, as well as volunteers Nick Shriner, Ben Vertner, Lyndon Haines, and McCade Wall.
 “My goal is to help these guys be more effective, which helps the kids, which ultimately, in the long run, helps our program be successful,” Harrison said. “It all starts with the youth program, getting them dialed in with what we are doing at the varsity level, so that our job becomes a little bit easier by the time they get into middle school and high school.
 “So, ultimately, I feel pretty good that we are a unified football program for 12th grade all the way down to third graders and I think it has contributed to some of our past success.”
Over 60 kids showed up for this week’s camp, which featured instruction on proper tackling techniques, stance, position responsibilities, and play formation.
 Due to the sport’s physical and strategic nature, football is considered one of the most demanding sports in the world, requiring focus, teamwork, and sacrifice.
 “In my mind, I think it’s the greatest team sport there is because it takes a lot of kids and a lot of practice and effort just to execute some of the basic concepts,” Harrison said. “It teaches kids that they are only part of the puzzle. There are other sports, and they all have value, but football teaches kids teamwork, accountability, sacrifice, commitment, effort, and toughness, which are all part of what we call ‘Wolverine tough.’ It’s about being part of a team, being able to accept your role, and having success at that role. We want to get the kids dialed in on the finer points of football and what is important about the sport and how it plays into their lives.”
 Mandatory camp for high school players begins Monday, Aug. 8 and will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
 Weiser’s Middle School football camp begins Monday, Aug. 8, at Weiser High School’s practice facility, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Those wishing to register can do so through the Weiser Recreation Department. The deadline is today, Wednesday, Aug. 3 and cost is $50.
 The non-contact camp will be conducted by WHS and WMS football staff and youth league coaches. For more information, contact Tom Harrison at (208) 589-3999.
 Registration deadline for the 2022 Youth Tackle Football season, a Weiser Recreation Department program for third through sixth graders, is also today, Wednesday, Aug. 3 and can be completed at the Weiser Recreation Department office at 55 W. Idaho St. Cost is $55 for city residents and $60 for Washington County residents. A $10 late fee will be added after Aug. 3. Weiser’s recreation department will schedule an evening to fit athletes with equipment. Game days are Monday and Wednesday. For more information, call the Weiser Recreation Department at (208) 414-0301.
 Harris said that no player will be turned away for inability to pay associated fees.
 “If kids can’t afford it, there are some programs out there to help,” he said. “There are means to help offset the cost.”
 One of those programs is the Future Wolverine Foundation, which raises funds to help defray the cost of a variety of youth activities, giving every kid the opportunity to participate in any sport, camp, and/or clinic. For more information, contact Kelly Haun at (208) 573-0812 or email her at haun208@msn.com. Families can also contact any teacher or the Weiser Recreation Department.
 

 

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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