Crisp fall-like weather: Youth football camp aims to instill fundamentals
Jul. 26—WORTHINGTON — A steady rain fell on Worthington late Monday afternoon, but the heaviest stuff had already passed when the Worthington Football Youth Camp got under way on Trojan Field at about 6:20.
It was good football weather. Cool. Overcast. And still a bit wet, as a few sprinkles landed on the seventh- and eighth-grade recruits gathered on the colorful and shiny artificial turf. Some of the youngest kids hadn't set foot on Trojan Field since it was refurbished a couple of years ago. Some others hadn't yet participated in organized football.
About 20 youngsters, mixed in with several WHS varsity gridders, took part in the camp under the direction of Trojans assistant coach Matt O'Neil. Other coaches attended, too, including head coach Geno Lais and longtime defensive assistant Scott Barber.
In the fieldhouse prior to taking the field, Lais explained a few tips the young players will need to remember. The Trojans don't do high-fives, he said. Instead, they do fist bumps, and it's designed so that players remember five people in their lives who make a difference. Fist, he said, is for family.
O'Neil said the camp is all about fundamentals — the first fundamentals.
"What we're really trying to teach them is the basics," he said. "At the youth level, it should be the basics and having fun."
O'Neil explained that he, himself, didn't understand the basics of football until he reached his sophomore year while growing up in New Ulm. But why wait till then?
"We want them to really understand it now," he said.
On Monday, the young future Trojans were taken through block-shedding and tackling drills from Barber, who has gained a reputation as a demanding, no-nonsense coach. But he was patient this time as he asked kids to tackle heads-up and not across the body.
"Always track the near hip," he said, adding later, "Shoot those hips. Don't get too high. If you're too high, you're gonna be the nail. We wanna be the hammer."
In other drills, the youngsters attempted to beat the block of a dummy held by a varsity assistant and continue toward another dummy held by a second assistant. Some flew at the would-be ball carrier. Others did so with less gusto at first, then with more relish on their second and third attempts.
Some of the kids appeared to be quite young, and it was hard to believe they were old enough to take part. But for every one who braved the wet Monday weather, O'Neil and his helpers were pleased. For some of the youthful recruits, it may have been difficult to understand that they can't easily replicate what they see from their favorite NFL players on Sunday afternoons, but they appeared to catch on quickly to first steps.
And they got the fist-bumping down right away.
