Blair High School football back Brock Templar enjoyed the competitive fire he saw during the Bears' annual youth camp at Krantz Field.
“There's some tough kids out here,” he said. “A couple fast kids in every grade.”
Coach Bryan Soukup, his staff and players hosted about 70 kids in grades 3-6 Thursday and Friday, teaching them the ins and outs of football. Toward the end of Thursday's 3-hour morning session, the kids raced through 40-yard dashes and competed to find out who could throw the ball the furtherest, too.
Before that, though, the Bears put in some technique work with the youngsters. Returning key contributor Thomas Chikos practiced lineman stances with his group, explaining how offensive and defensive players line up before each snap.
“Especially as a little kid, they have no clue what a stance is,” he said. “Which foot goes forward. Which foot goes back. Where your hand goes or anything like that, so we've got to teach them all of that.”
It's a key element to the game and Chikos was happy to share his knowledge on the subject.
“If you don't have stance right, you're not getting out fast,” he explained.
Templar, meanwhile, said he worked with young defensive backs Thursday. He taught them how to change directions quickly, breaking on the ball or the receiver's route.
“As a DB, you want to be fast going from a back pedal to a sprint whether that's forward or that's sideways,” Templar explained.
He believed his lessons were heard based on the results.
“The first rep, you see them not do as good,” Templar said. “And, then, when you give them a little teaching, it's nice to see them pick up on it and do better the second round through.”
While it was all about the kids Thursday and Friday, Chikos, BHS and he officially begin their own practices Aug. 12.
