While our high school players continue with their summer OTAs, the next generation of football players (63 in total) joined together from towns throughout Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and beyond to participate in this year’s Hilltopper Youth Football Camp.
Four years ago, we highlighted two Youth Camp participants who came from different towns and different backgrounds to quickly become friends during our 5-day camp. The following year, they entered St Johnsbury Academy and became teammates. As they prepare for their senior season this year, they took time off from their summer jobs to return to our Youth Camp as student coaches.
Team sports (football in particular), provide a prime opportunity for kids to work together, rely on each other, and interact with teammates from various backgrounds regardless of their perceived differences. These opportunities have a way of forging potentially lifelong relationships. I know I’m lucky to share friendships forged on the gridiron and at summer camps that have lasted more than forty years. I sincerely hope some of this year’s campers and teammates can say the same forty years from now… As the saying goes, what unites us is far greater than what divides us.
Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time!
O Line Skills 