Youth football players take the field for RTHS summer camp

Kissack focusing on fundamentals, safety and fun

Russell Hodges
Posted 7/17/18

The next generation of Rochelle football players gathered at the Rochelle Township High School practice grounds on Monday to begin the football program’s annual youth summer camp.

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Youth football players take the field for RTHS summer camp

Kissack focusing on fundamentals, safety and fun

Posted

ROCHELLE — The next generation of Rochelle football players gathered at the Rochelle Township High School practice grounds on Monday to begin the football program’s annual youth summer camp.

Leadership by example is a clear staple of the RTHS football program, and that leadership was evident Monday evening, as many players on the varsity team helped head coach Kyle Kissack and his staff walk players through different drills and exercises.

“We have such a great supportive football community,” Kissack said. “To see the younger generation be that excited about football, and for us to have an opportunity to spend the week coaching them about the fundamentals and techniques… Giving back is very rewarding to us and we look forward to that time.”

Campers between third and eighth grade will work out at the RTHS practice grounds from Monday through Thursday, with sessions running from 6 to 7:30 p.m. While many participants are gearing up for their respective Rochelle Junior Tackle teams (fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth-graders), younger campers playing flag football or just learning the game can gain an excitement for football through the summer camp.

“We want to show them that football is fun,” Kissack said. “We want to give them opportunities to be successful in the game of football this week, and we want to give them the fundamentals that keep them safe so they can play the game the correct way and put themselves in positions to be successful.”

For players participating in Rochelle Junior Tackle this year, the RTHS summer camp serves as a good primer for the upcoming season. With RJT practices beginning next week, campers can begin learning or continue learning the offensive and defensive schemes taught at the high school level.

“We’re installing our system for them at the younger level so we focus a lot on technique and alignment,” Kissack said. “We teach them to keep their eyes up and we teach them very detail-oriented types of things that can separate them from their opponents.”

Some campers could suit up for the RTHS football program as early as next year, while others may wind up playing for the Hubs several years down the road. Nevertheless, Kissack said that arguably the biggest goal of the youth summer camp is to help the campers have fun.

“I think that’s the most important thing this week,” Kissack said. “Along the way, while they’re having fun, it’s our job to teach them the techniques and the proper fundamentals to play football and be safe.”