Posts in category Youth Football Camps

Youth Football Speed and Agility Drills

May06
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Coach Jeff

Youth Football Speed & Agility Drills Camp

The youth football organization I coach at is holding it’s first annual free speed & agility drills camp next week. I am excited because this is a great way to generate additional signups for the upcoming season. This is also very beneficial because I will be able to get a look at a couple of players that I have not seen in action yet. We will be able to gauge our team’s athleticism and see where we might need improvements. We will use a drill station system for this camp. This means we will have the kids move from drill station to drill station on a timer. We will keep the kids in groups by age and just keep rotating stations every few minutes. We will have the same drill set up twice in each station. This will allow the kids to get more reps, rather than waiting in a line for 3 minutes.

This will be a one day camp in which we will break the kids up by age. All head coaches and their staff will work with the age group they are coaching come August. The head coaches will keep recorded times of the kids that are going to play for them. We will be recording times so after a month of actual football practice you can see if your players got faster. You will also be able to see which players actually did these drills during the spring and summer.

See what they are saying about speed & agility on Facebook:

YouthFootballOnline.com -What is your favorite drill for developing speed and agility?

Jeff Abate: The ladder

Roger Negrete: 4 cone box drill :sprint,shuffle,back pedal,carioca

Andrew Gould: Dots drill!

Click the link below to see the entire speed and agility discussion on our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/youthfootballonline?ref=hl

Twitter Discussion-Don’t Forget to Follow Youth_Football !

“@youth_football: What is your favorite drill for developing speed and agility?” I make make my kids do four corners timed drills!

— Deraldo A. Hooper (@deraldohooper) May 6, 2013

For my camp we will also be printing out pamphlets about speed and agility. In this pamphlet we give diagrams of the drills and a workout routine. We will also include some nutrition and hydration guidelines for the kids to follow, which will help ensure optimal performance. We will also implement some fun activities. We will most likely do handball for the older kids and a relay challenge for all the younger players. We will let them compete by age groupings in a relay challenge.

(video of 3-cone and my modified short cone shuttle)

Here are some of the speed and agility drills we will be implementing at this speed camp:

3-cone drill
4-cone drill
40 yard dash
20 yard dash
Short cone shuttle
Step over dummies burst
Stop & burst, change of direction drill
Relay race

Having a free speed and agility camp is very beneficial for your youth football organization. You can set up a registration table and push parents to sign their players up for the season. This will generate additional early sign ups and get players to the field because it is free. To drive even more sign ups, you can market an “early bird discounted registration“, which will save the parents some money. This speed and agility camp will also create excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season. If possible, give away a free t-shirt to the players that attend(create a cool design and saying). The kids will love the shirt and wear it all the time.

Posted in General Coaching Tips, Youth Football Drills, Youth Football Training - Tagged Speed and Agility Camp, Youth Football Speed and Agility Camps

Roman Oben’s Football Showcase Camp in Randolph NJ

Mar28
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Youth Football Online visited 12 year NFL veteran, Super Bowl champ and NY Giants broadcaster Roman Oben for his Roman’s Soldier Showcase. This was a mini spring football camp for players in the 8^th to 11^thgrade. The showcase had some of the best football talent in New York and New Jersey in attendance along with a group of top level coaches.

We were instantly greeted at the entrance of the Indoor Sports Pavilion (in Randolph, NJ) by Roman Oben and his team. Everyone was in great spirits, ready for some spring football. The day kicked off with a welcome speech from Roman Oben and a coaches introduction. The coaching staff was well assembled, a group of ex-NFL’ers and skilled coaches. Roman further explained expectations for showcase participants.

Camp begins by stretching and warm-ups with speed coach Brad Vacarro.

I guess it was fitting that a speed coach be in attendance because what stood out most about this showcase was the amount of speed these kids displayed. Brad is very technical with his approach to warm-ups and speed/strength training. We noted down some of his key recommendations:

For lunges, go slow, hips and chest up, the proper way arms opposite legs.
For push-ups, wide, go wide! When going down- count to 4, go slow.

Following an excellent warm up, the kids then went into individual position drills with their position coaches. The running backs worked on the proper method of taking a handoff. The RBs then concentrated extensively on ball security. Here was a youth football running back “crab” drill that we love:

There was a large turnout of skill position players. The QBs also received a lot of technical instruction. They were taught how to throw the ball on 2, 5, and 7 step drops. They also worked in drills on throwing on the run. The quarterbacks got plenty of passes in and such threw to a variety of targets.

The offensive and defensive linemen also got a ton of work in. The offensive linemen worked on run blocking techniques, pass blocking techniques and blocking assignments. The defensive linemen worked a lot of block destruction and pass blocking techniques. These linemen were also able to get some tips from 12 NFL veteran left tackle Roman Oben. If you’re a lineman you need to make it out to this camp.

Roman Oben camp instruction

Participants took part in 1 on 1’s, 2 on 2’s and 7 on 7 competitions. Here’s where we got a chance to see individual talent. Lots of speed!

This showcase had Rivals.com and a few other scouts in attendance. Matt from Rivals.com had a few words for the kids that were of note. He explained that the Rivals.com star ratings doesn’t matter and athletes shouldn’t take the ratings too seriously. What is important is the coaches opinion. This was a well organized and efficient camp with superior coaching. Roman Oben is genuine person who has the kids’ best interest in mind.

Here’s Roman talking about his motivation for the Roman’s Soliders Showcase:

Posted in General Coaching Tips, Offensive Linemen, Videos, Youth Football Drills, Youth Football Training

Why Your Kid Should Train For Football Now

Mar09
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Vin

While March is traditionally a month for youth athletes to concentrate on other sports such as baseball and track- focusing on football now is an excellent idea. Get your child learning football now as all the other kids are at home playing video games. Don’t let him forget that playing football is not a seasonal activity, but it is in fact a demanding sport that requires year round training.

Give your athlete an upper hand.

Football mechanics and conditioning are two areas that kids should always have concentration on; it’s best your athlete start preparing. Often the challenge is you don’t want to interrupt the schedule set for your kid’s spring sports (baseball practices, games). To solve this, it is favorable to involve him in a one day football camp or training session.

One day camps are increasingly becoming popular because of two factors- efficiency and cost. In just hours, your athlete will be trained in proper football form, fundamentals and technique at a fraction of the cost of a bigger camp. Use Google to look for local spring camps, coached by established coaching names. Here in NJ, we will be reporting from a football camp on Sunday March, 24th in northern New Jersey hosted by 12 year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion Roman Oben. This one day camp is open for kids in grades 8 to high school, click for more information and to register.

A training session with a skill position specific expert is also an excellent way to get your child athlete better at his position in the springtime. Find a local coach that trains and inquire. If you are the parent of a child that wants to play quarterback, visit former NFL quarterback and QB Guru, Coach Todd Krueger at playQB.com. Check out Coach Krueger’s facebook page to see where he’s training next.

Football requires all out dedication year round, get active early! Follow us on twitter at @youth_football and let us know if you’re attending a March football camp.

YFO football

Posted in General Coaching Tips, Youth Football Training

Preseason Practice Report # 2

Jul24
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Coach Jeff

This past weekend we held our second preseason practice. The objective of this practice was to develop fluency with our base plays. Our base running plays are- rocket sweep, power, trap, counter, and gut. We were able to get a good amount of reps in the hour we had to practice. The kids are really starting to grasp this series. The motion timing was twenty times better than the last preseason practice. We were able to run these plays with both first and second teams.

Credit Photo:sub.gmnews.com

The rocket sweep is starting to look real good. The QBs are executing great pitches and the running backs are doing really well with the motion timing, foot work, and catching the pitch. It is tremendously important that the rocket sweep is executed flawlessly. Every play in this rocket wing t series is coming off of rocket motion. We will rep rocket sweep and rocket motion timing over and over until the kids execute it perfectly.

My coaching staff and I spent some time working on our passing game. We worked on our post/corner and post/ wheel passing plays. Both QBs at practice threw the ball really well. They were able to read the defense and make the correct throw, I was pretty impressed. We also worked on our slant and fade routes. The slant was thrown well for the most part, but our deep throws could have been a bit more consistent.

Post/Corner Wing T Offense

All in all I am happy with the progress, but we still have a ways to go before our offense is clicking on all cylinders. We have one more preseason practice before the season starts.

Posted in Coaching Offense - Tagged coaching youth football, wing t offense, youth football plays

Football Camp Report: Focus on Offensive and Defensive Linemen

Jul16
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Vin

Youth Football Online visited the Junior Rank football camp in Bridgewater, NJ this weekend- it was another memorable camp loaded with the state’s best youth football talent. This report will cover offensive and defensive line play.

The weather could best be described as a scorcher- it was over 90 degrees on the football field- but the kids ignored the conditions and focused on football. Junior Rank camp kicked off with dynamic warmups drills, a grueling set of calisthenics led by the US Marine Corps.

The transition into football drills was seamless. They mixed up the various drills masterfully. The intention was to train these athletes to be able to move in all directions with great accuracy, quickness and coordination.

Assisting with the ladder drills were a skilled group of Junior Rank coaches with a helping hand from the Marine corps-

(Whistle)

‘Go’ !

‘Go’!

Followed by an emphatic ’10! ‘ signaling a costly (10 pushup) misstep while performing the ladder drill. You had to do it right, otherwise you’d be facing the ground, completing 5 pushups. The Marines were very involved in this camp, taking part in all the drills. If a kid struggled to perform his assigned pushups, a Marine would be there to support with solid words of encouragement.

I’ve noticed the spark the Marine Corps tend to provide these football camps, it’s something else! The kids had utmost respect and appreciation for the Marines in attendance.

Following the football drills I had a chance to sit in and watch Coach Garcia teach kids about playing the offensive line. It’s often not considered a glamorous position, but it is one of the most important positions on the football field.

Coach Garcia initially noted that the kids were dragging their feet in that 5 yard space. It’s a tight space to do battle for a lineman, he stressed the importance of good footwork.

“Less dragging!”

Left foot behind, first whistle, kick, followed by punch.

“No getting beat!”

He stressed the violent punch.

Coach recommended offensive linemen develop explosiveness from the upper and lower body. Coach loves the clapping pushups to help build explosive movements.

Back peddle with punch:

Popping up should be eliminating, it’s better to stay low.

Switch stance..

Explosiveness, keeping a low keep center of gravity.

“Don’t just walk backwards, Kick!”

“Kick, head up, punch.!”

On the other side of the line of scrimmage, I went to report on the defensive linemen:

Coach had a unique way of teaching the line. He stressed that the arm really consists a a wrist, forearm, elbow and shoulder and the importance of the each piece of the arm. Why are so important? The ability to freeze and move.

“Hit the elbow, the shoulders turn..”

Work on getting hand off the body, then get to elbow, which controls shoulder, which then freeze lineman.

“Look at your target, see it, See it! knock it down.”

Brilliant.

Posted in Defensive Line, Offensive Linemen, On The Road

Review of Junior Rank Diamond Football Camp in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jun18
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Youth Football Online visited Junior Rank’s Diamond Flight Youth Football Camp in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this past weekend. It was a perfect 75 degree June day, with the sun slyly hiding behind the clouds, peaking out at the right moments. This is YFO’s second visit to a Junior Rank football camp, the first was Junior Rank Diamond Football Camp in Phoenix Arizona. This camp did not disappoint at all and Philadelphia lived up to its nickname as the city of brotherly love.

Vin, VP of Junior Rank Bret Cooper and Jeff

The Football

The Junior Rank coaches were on point! They were very organized, very knowledgeable, and well experienced. There isn’t a better youth football camp in the country.

In case you weren’t aware.. Philadelphia is a serious football hotbed. There were some very talented athletes at this camp; straight out ballers. We had the opportunity to scout many of the kids during the individual position drills. Despite the large turnout, over 200 kids, the standouts were easily able to shine during these group drills.

The Junior Rank coaches really pushed these players during the individual periods. They paid great attention to detail and fundamentals. The coaches made sure all the football players learned the proper techniques so they can play the game successfully and most importantly safely. They drilled the fundamentals in these players head. They made sure all the players understood what they were teaching and made them do it again until the player got the drill right. What I like most about this camp is tempo. This is a football camp that is operated with great enthusiasm and passion. They keep the players focus by creating a fun, upbeat, and competitive environment. Junior Rank Football Camp is all about preaching hard work.

Beyond Football

The Junior Rank football camp is a great because they teach more than just football; they stress the importance of getting an education. They also stress the importance of having discipline (a major benefit learned from playing youth football) in the early growth years of a young man. Junior Rank brings in the US Marine Corps at each camp to operate the dynamic warm-ups. The Drill Instructors (DI) did a great job of setting the tone for the weekend. At this camp the Marines were even involved in some of the drills, of which the kids got a big kick out of. This camp is a great experience for any player that is trying to get better. They have expert coaches, some of the best in the country, for each position. The coaches really push these youth football athletes to get better each day. They did a great job working with kids that needed a little extra help with technique. If a kid made a mistake, he was asked to do it again until it was perfect. The coaches also did a great job of pumping these athletes up and making the experience fun and upbeat.

YFO All-Star Ta’Quan Roberson at the Junior Rank camp

Special thanks to Brett Cooper and the entire Junior Rank team for the incredible opportunity to cover the camp. Stay tuned for video, visit the Youth Football Online YouTube channel!

Posted in General Coaching Tips, On The Road - Tagged junior rank, philadelphia football camp, youth football

Review Of Junior Rank Diamond Football Camp In Phoenix, Arizona

Mar13
2012 4 Comments Written by Youth Football Online

Youth Football Online visited Junior Rank’s Diamond Flight Youth Football Camp in Phoenix, Arizona this past weekend. We enjoyed the picture perfect 80 degrees sunny days and the warm hospitality we received. Junior Rank has a variety of experienced coaches running their camp along with the added twist of having the Marines, that’s right I said the Marines, in attendance. All coaches have either played or coached at the youth, high school, college and NFL levels, that’s extensive experience coaching all levels of football. This was one of the best-organized youth football camps I have ever attended during my entire coaching career.

The Junior Rank football camp kicked off with a parents’ welcome and a general meeting with staff introductions. This camp showcased some of the best youth football (ages 11-17) talent in the country. The kids sat calmly as each coach was introduced and as CEO Shaon Berry spoke opening words of encouragement. “We’re looking for differentiators” said Shaon Berry with the kids listening intently. The USMC leadership seminar then commenced for 30 minutes as a Marine Major discussed leadership traits with the youth football athletes on and off the field. The kids soon after formed an orderly line and headed toward the field. For the next 30 minutes, the US Marine Corps took control of the camp instituting a dynamic warm-up. It was a rigorous and challenging mix of calisthenics and stretching. The Drill Instructors (DI) did a masterful job of preparing these kids and setting the tone for the weekend. The Marines had a great presence at this camp. I would estimate up to 15 Marines in attendance, the discipline and leadership the Marines instilled at the camp can best be described as awesome.

As the dynamic warm-ups ended, the kids hydrated, then it was time for football. Coach Oscar Dillard, as the camp director, orchestrated the camp seamlessly. One of the key strengths of this youth football camp is the coaching staff. What stood out the most was the passion these coaches displayed for teaching the game- evident that these coaches truly love the game of football. This was a two-day camp and the coaches never let up, they taught with great enthusiasm from start to finish. The Junior Rank Camp offers expert coaches, some of the best in the country, for each position. The coaches really challenged these youth football athletes to become better. They did a great job working with kids that needed a little extra help with technique. If a kid made a mistake, he was asked to do it again until it was correct. The coaches also did a great job of pumping these athletes up and making the experience fun and upbeat.

running backs defensive station Coach McMillan doing defensive back drills qb station

Each youth football drill was done with a competitive spirit. Ex-NFL players Mark McMillian, Byron Evans and the talented group of coaches really pushed the players during the drills. They focused on football fundamentals during all individual position periods. After the kids went through a crisp individual session with their position coaches, they put it all together during the 1 on 1 and 7 on 7s drills. The 1 on 1 and 7 on 7s were well organized. During the competitive periods ( 1 on 1, 7 on 7) it was apparent that these coaches did a great job because these players played with precise technique. The fundamentals they learned carried into the game type competitions.

Favorite quote overheard at the camp: ‘If football was first, then you’d own a jumprope”. If football was first, then you wouldn’t be playing video games, you’d be getting better.” – Coach Ernest Jones

Youth Football Online with coaches from Junior Rank

The Junior Rank staff operated the camp with great purpose and organization. All the coaches were on the same page and the camp operated fluently. The staff was well informed on how a productive youth football camp should be operated. In this camp they did a great job of utilizing every minute they had thereby giving parents their money’s worth. The staff did a great job of making sure the kids were hydrated and took the proper amount of breaks. They also had a certified athletic trainer at the camp in case of injury.

Why we love Junior Rank- they focus on the importance of hard work not just on the football field, but also in the classroom. The organization stresses the importance of education and discipline. After every drill they brought the kids in and talked about the importance of education. We look for the same characteristics when selecting kids for the Youth Football Online All-Star program.

Here’s YFO All-Star Izzy Araiza completing an offensive lineman drill:

One of the key points that we noticed with this camp was how friendly and accommodating the staff was. Every member we came in contact with was a pleasure to meet and was very helpful. The staff did a great job of talking to parents and addressing all questions. They handled themselves with upmost professionalism.

Youth Football Online would like to thank CEO Shaon Berry, VP of Operations Glenn Deveaux and the entire Junior Rank team for allowing us to report on their football camp.

Posted in On The Road, Youth Football Benefits, Youth Football Drills - Tagged best youth football camps, junior rank, marine corps, shaon berry, youth football

On the Road: Coach Todd Krueger Quarterback Training Session in Marlborough Mass.

Dec20
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Coach Jeff

Youth Football Online visited former NFL QB Todd Krueger’s quarterback training session in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Todd has an impressive resume of quarterback coaching, working with athletes from the NFL, CFL, arena, UFL, semi-pro, college, high school and youth football leagues.

Before the training session, YFO was granted an exclusive interview with this highly sought after quarterback coach. Coach Jeff and Coach Krueger discussed (watch the interview below) important offensive coaching topics such as proper youth football quarterback techniques. Joining us was Youth Football Online All-Star Daron Bryden and his dad Craig Bryden.

Coach Krueger is a strong believer in NFL style fundamentals for young quarterbacks including:

Correct ball position
Correct throwing motion (a little over the top)
Using more of the body (rotational throw with hips and shoulders)

Coach Krueger made it very clear that solid quarterback play starts with proper footwork. Coach Krueger’s saying:

“What’s the Quarterbacks job on the pass play? Throw Completions. To do that you have to be accurate. And to have good accuracy, you have to have good footwork.”

During our interview, Coach Krueger stressed the importance of youth football practice. Youth quarterbacks need to throw the football regularly (up to 100 throws each workout), practice footwork and drop-back passing several times a week. As they say- practice makes perfect.

We asked Coach about common mistakes that youth football quarterbacks often make. His response- quarterbacks tend to hold the ball high above the shoulders. Coach Krueger also discussed proper techniques when throwing on the run- the squaring of shoulders and chest toward target.

Coach Krueger talked about the intangibles needed to be a successful quarterback. There is so much more to playing QB than just being able to throw. Leadership, resilience, work ethic, and confidence are all part of the challenging job description.

We felt a great sense of hospitality when we met Coach Todd Krueger. Coach ran a smooth and productive training session, practicing various quarterback drills with excellent in-depth instruction. If you’d like to learn more, visit Coach Todd Krueger’s website PlayQB.com.

Posted in General Coaching Tips, On The Road, Videos, Youth Football Drills - Tagged coach todd krueger nfl, daron bryden, youth football quarterback drills

The Youth Impact Program

Oct06
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Vin

Imagine if your youth football athlete could spend a summer with a top notch college football team, learning football while going through an intense academic program. The Youth Impact Program is making this happen for some lucky student athletes across the country.

The program was started by ex-NFL player Riki Ellison as an escape for low-income, inner city junior high school kids. Getting kids off the streets and into the storied halls of elite colleges across the country can be hugely inspirational, and very beneficial.

The focus of the Youth Impact Program is clear. It’s about teaching academic excellence, social interaction and character development from storied college football programs. The kids will have their football leadership skills honed. Call it a real world boot camp. Spending time with college football coaches and public school teachers provide the education factor- learning football with a challenging math, english and science curriculum with serious life skill lessons. It’s a demanding program that will stick in the minds of these children as they prepare for high school.

We’d like to see many schools adopt this program. Ask your local university to participate in the Youth Impact Program for next summer. Here’s a video about the program at USC, with Pete Carroll, in 2008:

Posted in News, Youth Football Benefits - Tagged riki ellison, youth football camps, youth impact program

Youth Football Camp Day 2- Defense

Jun22
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Coach Jeff

Youth Football Camp Day 2- Defense (Brief Overview)

Focus: Agility, Getting off blocks, Defensive line play, Form tackling and Pass Coverage

It was an 80 degree day, with a bit of rain earlier in the afternoon. But, all in all it was a great day for football, however I feel any day is a great day for football.

We always start camp with a good stretch. We line the players up in 4 lines-with each player 5 yards behind the player in front of them. It is always good to look organized. We end stretching with high knees, kick-outs, shuffle and back pedals.

Agility Cone Drills

Cone Drills
Shuffle Drills

Defensive Linemen Stance/ Exploding on Ball Movement

Remember, the offense goes on a snap count. The defense does not know when the offense is going to snap the ball. The offense will mix up the snap counts as well as going on a hard count. Teach your players to watch the ball and explode on ball movement. Watching the ball is vital, because you do not want to get off-side penalties. We also worked on launching, squeezing and gap control.

Getting off Blocks- All Positions

No matter what position you play, getting off block blocks is vital. You cannot tackle the ball carrier until you get off the blocks. The offense isn’t just going to let you run and tackle the ball carrier. A form tackling technique walk through was also completed. Playing defense is all about losing blocks, pursuit and tackling well. The Rip Move.

Coverage

The secondary worked on both man to man and zone coverage.

Man Coverage

Work proper press coverage- gives a step then redirect.
Play with inside leverage ( take away the inside release)
Proper hip movement and finding the ball in the air

Youth football camps need to be run with fluency and organization. Having an organized camp is the key to the camp’s success. All participants need to be moving and involved, no standing around. Make it upbeat and fun. Remember, youth football is supposed to be fun. Always end the day with a fun activity like a pickup game, race, or activity of that sort.

Posted in Youth Football Drills - Tagged youth football camps, Youth football defenses

The National Football League and their Communities

Apr06
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Vin

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear about the National Football League (NFL) is THE “lock out”. The owners and players union are still trying to work out several issues as we, the fans, wait and wonder the fate of the season. Throughout all these issues there is one professional organization that still puts time and money into their community. The Houston Texans recently revealed a brand new football field that was constructed in the Houston Texans YMCA, which was in need of some fields. The Texans are the first major sports franchise to take a large partnership with the YMCA. Click to see the full article by Joachim Clarke, of the Houston Chronicle.

This is a great example for other NFL teams. Though, all the NFL teams give back to their communities in some manner, the Houston Texans have always been known for it. Building a field for youth football in the Houston YMCA will help the YMCA offer more activities to the children of the community. This will give more options to the children, ultimately keeping them off the street and out of trouble. This is an indoor facility which will allow for sports all year long, regardless of the weather. Developing and upgrading park and recreational programs is crucial for the positive development of the children in all communities. This will also save the community needed money, which the local government can use to focus on creating jobs or other needs.

Check out our recent interview with Houston Texans Safety Dominique Barber for another example of a Texan doing great things off the field.

Posted in From the Gut, News - Tagged houston texans, nfl lockout, youth football, youth football field

Youth Football Camps- What to Look For

Mar30
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Youth Football Online

Credit: Naplesnews.com

Attending a youth football camp is the best way for your child to tune up and prepare for the upcoming football season. But which camp (Pro, high school, university or private) is the right fit for your kid?

We recommend you start with coaches credentials when choosing your youth camp. Are the camp coaches fully experienced at teaching youth levels? Many of the university youth football camps employ college assistant coaches to run their youth programs. The pro camps have NFL players and coaches. While the private camps offer a variety. Do your research.

When it comes to instruction, an excellent camp will focus on sprinting, flexibility and form running drills/ techniques. Camp coaches should enforce proper running technique to make your child faster so campers should experience a noticeable increase in speed (and flexibility) after attending the camp.

Youth football camp has a sole purpose, to offer excellent football fundamental instruction. Though it shouldn’t stop there, kids should have varied positive experiences throughout time spent at camp. Camp is also about creating friendships. Find a youth football camp in your city at kidscamps.com.

Posted in Youth Football Benefits - Tagged youth football, youth football camp, youth football drills

Youth Football Online Q&A with Houston Texans Safety Dominique Barber

Mar16
2011 4 Comments Written by Youth Football Online

NFL Player: Dominique Barber – Team: Houston Texans – Position: Safety

Youth Football Online interviews NFL Safety Dominique Barber. Dom graduated Wayzata High School in Minnesota; during his senior year he was All-Conference/All-State as a defensive back. His athletic abilities weren’t limited to just football- he lettered twice in hockey and once in baseball. In college, Dom was a second team All-Big Ten selection. The Houston Texans selected Dom Barber in the 6th round of the 2008 draft. Dominique comes from a well respected football family- his dad Marion Barber played for the N.Y Jets and his brother Marion Barber III currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys. Here’s our in-depth rousing interview with Dom.

Coach Jeff: How has being from a tight knit football family molded you into the person you are today ?
Dom Barber: Family is so important to me; my parents raised us the right way.
Enjoy life, live to the fullest and always put God first. So that’s what I try to do, God
comes first in everything I do, I give him praise for my family, my success, who I
am, it all goes to him. Growing up in my household the love that my family has for
each other is unconditional, and it goes a long way with my everyday life. My Faith,
Family, Football, everything I do I try to do it with unconditional love, everyday in
every way.

Coach Jeff: There are countless benefits of playing youth football, what do you
believe is the top benefit?
Dom Barber: Man, youth football was absolutely the best. It’s so important, you
learn how to play football, develop your skills at a young age. You learn how to
throw, how tackle, (as my dad always says, “Below the shoulders and above the knee
and you should have a good tackle”). The list goes on, and it’s up to you as a youth player to understand what your coaches are trying to teach you. Develop your football mind, as you would do in school.

Coach Jeff: As a student athlete, how important is it to excel in the classroom?
Dom Barber: Football isn’t going to last forever, so you always have to have a
plan. Every kid who plays football grows up wanting to be an NFL football player.
Everyone has their favorite player or that person they want to be able to compare
their game too. But it starts in the classroom and getting your degree. Because I’ll
say it again, we all think we can play this game forever but the reality is you can’t.
Football can be taken away from you at any point in your life, but your college
degree can’t be taken away.

Coach Jeff: What does it take to become a successful college and NFL football player?
Dom Barber: You have to put God first, because he is the one that is going to direct
you in the correct path. Family, you should always be able to look to your family for
guidance, help or anything you may need. Family should be there to help you find the
answer. Youth coaches, I still have contact with some of my youth coaches because it
means a lot to me. What they have taught me has helped my development not only as a player but also as a man. My high school Defensive Coordinator is now the Head Coach at Maple Grove High school. I still chat with him all the time about football and about life. It’s always nice to know that I have so many people in my corner and people I can trust
and enjoy my playing career with. But you have to be disciplined, no one can make
you go to class, or go to study hall it’s up to you. You have to find out how to balance
your school, football, and social life without trying to be too overwhelmed. Sit back
sometimes- think about everything, enjoy the moment, and think that “hey it could be
worse”. I just try to enjoy life as it is; I’ve been like that for years now and it has
helped me become who I am today.

Coach Jeff: What is the most challenging aspect of playing strong safety? What traits
do you need to be a solid safety at any competitive level of football?
Dom Barber: It’s almost like you’re the QB of the Defense. Usually the Mike Line
Backer will get the fronts set (D Line set) and as a Safety you have to make call, adjustments, and you have to do that on the fly. So you have to be a student of the game, you have to understand what are the possible plays out of this formation, what could happen if there were motions, unbalanced line, all plays when you play safety. Can’t have cold feet out there as you are the last line of defense, have to be able to tackle and you have to be able to cover a tight end and a receiver at times. You need to know the playbook as if you were a QB or even a D Coordinator because all that’s going to do is help you, then you are able to go out there and just play and not have to think.

Coach Jeff: How does having a solid week of practice translate into success on game
day?
Dom Barber: I’ll use a typical work week for us. Games are usually played on Sundays
so the workweek starts Monday. Watching film, looking for the opposing teams
tendencies, adjustments, personnel, all comes into play on Monday and you carry that
out through the week. And you have to practice hard, because you as a player have
to show your teammates and coaches that you are ready to play- ready for anything.
When you have a good week of practice you just know as a player that you are ready
and you can go out there and just ball. Can’t wait until Saturday night meetings to
think that you can go out there and play. Yes you can do it, but are you going to
be able to play as well as you would be able to play had you did your homework
earlier in the week.

Coach Jeff: What defensive back drill do you feel is best for the youth level?
Dom Barber: Back Pedal. We back pedal everyday in practice. You have to train your
legs early, it gets tiring at times but you have to be able to back pedal as a Defensive Back just as you would be able to run as a wide receiver. Yes, you’re not going to be able to run like you can forward, but the point is to be comfortable. Be able to back pedal all day long
because, as a safety, that’s what your going to be doing most of the game.

Coach Jeff: Nutrition and hydration are commonly overlooked in youth football, how
important is diet and hydration for your body to perform in practice, workouts and games?
Dom Barber: Man I can’t tell you enough how important it is to be hydrated as a
player. Again it starts on Monday, you have to train your body early. Football is a
tough sport already and it’s mentally draining. But when you’re hydrating your body you’ll take away the little man in your head that’s asking for water on game day. You have to hydrate yourself as if you were studying film. Goes a long way when you’re out there playing the game- you’ll just feel better. I’m from Minnesota and now live in Houston, so I’ve had to make major adjustments to the summer weathers. More and more fluids are needed because heat is an unbelievable thing in Houston (laugh). But it’s an adjustment
you have to make and if you want to play it’s important to stay hydrated and eat
correctly. Can’t always have fast food, you have to put things in your body that will
take care of you not worsen what you have started early in the week.

Coach Jeff: Tells us about the Barber Foundation Youth Football Camp that your
family runs..
Dom Barber: Our foundation is toward inner city youth kids. We do a camp in
Minneapolis every year and it’s for the kids. Its an all day camp where we have some
of our teammates, and other players come out to interact with the kids. We’ll show them
somethings that we do to prepare ourselves for the upcoming season. All we want to do
is give back, and the Lord has blessed us to do just that. Some kids are less fortunate
than others, and it goes a long way when these kids see professional athletes trying
to help them with their game. I love it! I love giving back and every year I get so
excited about the camp back home because I know the smiles I see, the laughter I hear,
are extra bonuses to me and to us- our foundation. It’s a wonderful thing to be able
to do that and feel the love that these kids bring.

We would like to thank Dom Barber for sitting with us for this authentic interview. Follow Dom on twitter @34DomBarber. Visit Dom’s website at DomBarber.com.

Posted in From the Gut, General Coaching Tips, Guest Blogs, Youth Football Drills - Tagged barber foundation, dom barber, hydration, marion barber, youth football, youth football drills, youth football tips

Youth Football Camps – It’s time to search

Mar01
2011 2 Comments Written by Youth Football Online

It is now March, we are months away until the start of the youth football season. It is a great time to start preparing your child for the upcoming season. Have your child start exercising regularly, when the youth football season starts it will be hot. It is important that your child is conditioned well. Another great way to prepare your child is by having your child attend a youth football camp. Youth football camps are great for developing skills and techniques, which will help your child this season.

Here are a few camps that are nationwide: Youth Football Camps

Tagged youth football, youth football camps, youth football conditioning