Youth learn sport at football camp
Published 12:25 pm Saturday, May 26, 2018
By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY
Daily News
The LaGrange College football coaches were back on the practice field teaching the sport, although the players were a bit younger than they’re accustomed to.
The Steve Pardue Youth Football Camp was held Wednesday through Friday, and boys and girls from kindergarten to the eighth grade participated.
Among the instructors was Pardue, LaGrange College’s head coach, along with most of the members of the staff.
“Last year, the numbers were in the low 30s, and this year we had 48,” said Pardue, who is heading into his second season as the Panthers’ head coach. “We’re just going to keep trying to grow it.”
The campers stayed busy, participating in a number of drills, and they also got to scrimmage to show off what they learned.
“All of the kids that come, they have a good experience,” Pardue said. “They were having fun. I think the kids liked it. Hopefully it’ll get better and better.”
Pardue believes a change in the camp’s format was beneficial for the young people.
“They used to do it two days, all day,” Pardue said. “For the young kids, that’s a long day out in this heat. So we changed it going to 8 to 12, and we give them a little snack in between.”
Later this summer, Pardue will host the Champions Elite Football Camp, with high-school players from across the area participating.
Coaches from LaGrange College, as well as numerous other college programs, will serve as instructors.
The camp will be held on June 7-8 at Callaway Stadium and the LaGrange College practice field.
A number of other youth camps offered by LaGrange College coaches will be held throughout the summer.
Here’s a look at them:
BASEBALL
LaGrange College head coach David Kelton will offer two camps this summer.
The first session is June 4-8, and the second session is June 11-15.
The hours will be 9 a.m. until noon each day, and the cost is $150.
For more information, call Kelton at (334) 524-6963, or email him at dkelton@lagrange.edu
BASKETBALL
The LaGrange College Youth Basketball Individual Camp will be from June 25-28 in Mariotti Gym, and it will be for boys and girls ages 7 to 14.
The cost is $125, and the hours will be from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. the first three days, and from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. the final day.
LaGrange College head coach Kendal Wallace is also offering the Youth Bsaketball Elite Camp from June 4-6, and it is for players who will be in high school next season.
The cost is $250 for overnight campers, and $175 for commuters, and all meals are included.
SOCCER
Jeff Geeter, the former men’s and women’s soccer coach at LaGrange College, will offer a camp from June 25-29.
The camp, which is for boys and girls ages 5 to 14, will be held at the LaGrange College soccer field
For boys and girls ages 5 to 8, the cost is $50, and the hours are from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. each day.
For boys and girls ages 9 to 14, the cost is $75, and the hours are from 9 a.m. until noon each day.
For information or to register, call (706) 880-8283 or (706) 884-0393 (evenings).
VOLLEYBALL
LaGrange College coach Madison Machurek will offer three camps this summer.
The first one, which will be held on June 21-22, will be for middle-school players.
There will be a skills camp on June 25-26 for setters and attackers and passers and defenders, and a high-school camp will be held from June 28-30.
OF NOTE: For more information on each of the camps, go to lagrangepanthers.com
