Jared Wood has been an offensive/defensive lineman all four years of his young football career and was looking for a camp where he could really let loose. Lori Wood, Jared's mother, said he found just the place at one of USA Football's Player Academies.
"We have been to a couple of local camps, which were fine, but this Player Academy was the first one we had been to where the players were in full pads," said Wood, whose son currently plays in the 9- to 10-year-old age group. "Playing in full pads, especially at his age (10), makes it more like football to him. There is much more intensity to each drill, and you could tell he definitely enjoyed it more."
There are 10 Player Academies scheduled for 2010, and each will offer a curriculum that is both position-specific and age-appropriate. One of the keys throughout the three-day camps is to make sure the instruction focuses on developing proper fundamentals while maintaining player safety. The instructors and coaches modify the contact drills to ensure that both education and safety are of the upmost importance.
"Jared told me that the coaches really taught him how to hit and tackle an opponent a certain way," Wood explains. "That's one of his favorite things to do, and that's the one thing that stands out in his mind - becoming a better hitter."
One of the staples of the Player Academies is the invaluable education and instruction players receive from the area's best youth and high school coaches. There is a low player-to-coach ratio to ensure the players receive greater individual attention. John Ziegelbauer said his son, Matthew, thoroughly enjoyed the interaction with the diverse coaching staff and learned a number of fundamentals he can't wait to use during the upcoming season.
John Ziegelbauer talks about his son's experience at the Player Academy.
"Matthew was very high on the coaches and the mix of different experiences he had with both the high school coaches and the local coaches from other programs," said Ziegelbauer, whose son currently plays WR/TE/DB in the 9- to 10-year-old division. "He really liked that mix. He was able to soak up a lot during the quarterback and wide receiver portion of the clinic and really fine-tuned some of the skills and intricacies of his specific positions."
Wood also noticed the hands-on approach the coaches used to effectively hammer home the proper techniques and fundamentals needed to further advance player development.
"The dedication of the coaches was definitely evident during the academy," Wood said. "They clearly were having a good time or else they wouldn't have been there if they weren't. They just seemed to have an extra layer of excitement, and my son really enjoyed being with them."
The USA Football Player Academies provide a player with all of the necessary fundamentals to succeed at any level all while providing a fun and challenging environment. But more importantly, these events will provide all of the youngsters with a positive experience they won't soon forget.
"Getting Matthew out of bed was surprisingly not a problem during the course of this camp," Ziegelbauer chuckled. "In the mornings, all I had to do was whisper 'time to get ready for football' and he would spring right up. Even on game days he wouldn't get up that fast, so I know he really enjoyed this camp and he's already eager to sign up again next year."
Sign up today for a Player Academy near you by clicking here.
