How to Run a Football Camp

Young athletes who attend football camps want to improve their skills significantly. Football camps are usually short, intense sessions that lead to something of a weeding-out process. Those who attend are usually good players to begin with, and they are competing with and playing with players of equal or higher ability. To run a football camp successfully, you must give every player a chance to improve and find out where he stands.

Instructions

    • 1

      Set the tone on the first day. Bring your campers together, introduce the staff and tell them what you hope to accomplish at camp. The key is to let players know what your camp is about and what you will do to make them better. One of the many characteristics football players need is discipline. Emphasize that by putting your player through 35-minute calisthenic workout.

    • 2

      Separate your players by position. Have a counselor take each group and explain what he thinks is needed to become an outstanding player. Have players go through drills that fit their position so the coach or counselor can see how they perform.

    • 3

      Bring every position together so competition can begin. Start by pitting running backs against linebackers, offensive linemen against defensive linemen and wide receivers against defensive backs. Make assessments and corrections after every play. Then bring all of the players together for a scrimmage.

    • 4

      Take players to the film room. Show them videotapes of practice sessions so they can see what they did right or wrong. Then show them videotapes of professional players so they can see how the game is played by the best players.

    • 5

      Bring in respected players and coaches to talk at camp. Ask a coach to discuss why football is worth the sacrifice. Have a professional player talk about the positives and negatives of the game. Football is a tough game physically and emotionally. it is best for players to know that.