CCLP/TJ MAXWELL - Campers compete in a two-man tire relay during the annual NFL Football Camp, hosted by the Copperas Cove School District, on Wednesday at Bulldawg Stadium.CCLP/TJ MAXWELL - Incoming freshman Rusty Cochran leaps for a touchdown catch during the annual NFL Football Camp, hosted by the Copperas Cove School District, on Wednesday at Bulldawg Stadium.CCLP/TJ MAXWELL - Cove Junior High 8th-grader McKenzie Agnello and teammates break a huddle during the annual NFL Football Camp.

CAMPING IS FUN

Coaching staff infusing more fun in Cove football camps
By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press
 
The official start of football season for the Copperas Cove ISD football program may still be six days away but that didn’t stop around 220 incoming junior high and freshman players from getting a jumpstart on their competitors by participating in the district-sponsored annual NFL Football Camp for students entering grades 7-9, that concludes today.
 
On top of helping campers hone the fundamentals of the sport, the coaches hope the NFL camp; along with the NCAA camp for students entering grades 1-6 (June 6-9); the Dawg Power Camp for students entering grades 7-9 and the skills specific Quarterback/Wide Receiver Camp for the offensive skill players (June 23-24), help athletes find a love for the game as well.
 
“This year, we’ve though about how to do our camps and we’re trying to make it a lot more fun with activities and some things that may be football related but not so drill specific to certain plays,” said Jeff Shannon, camp director. “We’re just trying to make it fun for the kids.”
 
The staff mixed in doses of individualized training sessions along with team-building competitions like the two-man tire relay and other team activities meant to break up the monotony of the training sessions and bring the team closer.
 
Shannon believes a more relaxed environment will lead to a better overall experience and maybe even entice some first time campers or football players to come out.
 
“It’s very important. We don’t want to seem like we’re just drilling football into them,” he said. “These kids come to our camp because they want to learn how to be the best, but you’re not going to keep their attention for four-straight hours, so you have to break it up with things that will keep them interested and make it fun. A lot of these kids, hopefully, will go tell their buddies that weren’t here how much fun it was. We want to bring that enjoyment and love of the game back.
 
“The one we had in June with the elementary kids and the one we’re having now, yes we are teaching them specific drills that will help them in football, but we’re also just trying to have a lot of fun.”
 
Shannon didn’t see a rise in numbers this year but was really pleased with what he saw from the 220-plus that attended.
 
“It’s keeping steady. We always get more kids when the football season starts because some kids are on vacation and things like that. Right now we are at 220 kids. That might be a couple less than before but it’s pretty steady and we’re pleased with that outcome,” he said. “I think we’ve accomplished what we needed to. Obviously, we’re not going to be able to put in all of our offensive plays and everything during this one week so we tried to focus on some of the plays offensively that are a little more difficult for kids to grasp. That was our focus this week.”
 
He also likes what he sees out of the incoming freshmen that are learning to gel with on another after merging together from the two junior highs.
 
“Freshmen-wise, we’ve got some good meshing going on with both junior highs coming together,” he said. “We’ve got good skill players and linemen that are coming along and that’s all we can really hope for right now.”
 
The lower grades are showing out as well and Shannon feels that’s only going to help the varsity in the future.
 
“From the looks of it, we’re pretty established in the skill area,” he said. “We’ve got some really good young playmakers and, in the next couple of years, we’ll see them at the high school and we’re excited about that.
 
“Defensively, I think we’ve done a good job of instilling the basics as far as roles and responsibilities, drops in coverage and things like that. That’s what we were focusing on this week and so far it’s worked out.”
 
Shannon credits his coaching staff for keeping the numbers up.
 
“It’s always a battle but our coaches did a good job,” he said. “We called every one of these kids on our rosters and welcomed them out here. A lot of them take part in it and it will be to their benefit come the first day of practice because they will be so far ahead of those that didn’t come out.”
 
Shannon’s brother Jeremy, hosted a quarterback and receiver camp in late July centered on getting players acclimated to the Bulldawgs’ fast-paced intricate offense.
 
“With the offensive philosophies that a lot of teams have, especially us, we like to throw the ball around so it’s important that our quarterbacks and skill positions know the rules and know how to read coverages because a lot of routes are based on what the coverages are at the time,” said Jeff. “Being able to make our reads and be fluid with all the players in those skill positions is what that quarterback camp is really for.”
 
Shannon wants players to walk away from these four camps with a better understanding of technique, a love for the game and a team attitude.
 
“(I want them to take away) a since of team and being able to rely upon one another and let them know the game of football is fun,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be monotonous and rigorous. It has to be fun and I think you’ll see a lot more kids excel and be successful when they have that feeling of self-worth because it was so fun for them.”

 

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