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Youngsters learning football fundamentals at MHS camp

Football fun and fundamentals were the focus this week at Marietta High School as the Tigers’ football team and staff hosted a youth football camp.

Approximately 50 young athletes, grades kindergarten through sixth, flooded the practice field eager to learn all that first-year MHS head coach Jason Schob and his Tiger football players had to offer.

The campers spent their camp hours learning all the football fundamental skills possible on both sides of the ball.

“We teach the kids every offensive position and every defensive position and teach all the fundamental techniques for those positions just because you never know who is going to pan out early and blossom a little bit later as well,” Schob said.

Various stations were set up to specifically teach campers the skill sets for the quarterback, running back and defensive line positions.

Each station was taught by members of the varsity team, something that’s beneficial to both the high schoolers and the young ones.

“I remember when I was a little kid, I looked up to the older football players tremendously, said Schob. “That’s why I think it’s good for our kids to learn to give back to the community and interact with the kids and be a good role model for the young kids.”

Garrett Davis, a senior fullback for the Tigers, spent his time at the camp teaching running back skills and form tackling. He recalled the last time being at a Marietta youth camp was when he was in grade school.

“It’s fun,” Davis said. “It’s a good way for us to come out and just get kids interested early so they can come out for football later because we’ve been lacking numbers in middle school and high school, so if we can get them interested early then it’s better for later.”

Members of the Tiger squad assisted with camp in hopes of improving on a skill that they will be teaching the young campers: teamwork.

“It’s a team building experience,” Davis said. “With all of us up here helping the little kids we can all help each other out and making all the other kids better and just having a good time and getting closer.”

Schob also agreed that teamwork and positivity is a key factor in being a successful football team. Each day, the senior football players awarded a prize to the “camper of the day” who displayed those skills and the most effort and coachability.

“Team is crucial. Ninety-nine percent of the time the team that has the best teamwork wins the games,” Schob said.

Campers were getting the whole team experience at camp in hopes of becoming a varsity Tiger football player in the future, and Davis, who served as a captain last year, had the advice to get the young athletes there.

“Just work as a team and don’t be selfish,” he said. “Play for the people you are playing with.”

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