’Hawk football camp set for young athletes

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

— Beginning early to build character and instill Blackhawk pride, head football coach Tony Travis is planning a Blackhawk Football Camp for children from second through sixth grades.

“We’ve got a strong little league program with good numbers and good people coaching,” Travis said. “There’s a lot of excitement ... we want those guys to come to camp. We want to put names with faces.

“We can get to know them and they can get to know us,” Travis said.

“We’ve got a strong little league program with good numbers and good people coaching.”

Coach Tony Travis

Head coach, Senior high Blackhawk football

“Every kid will get 10 to 15 minutes learning basic things abouteach position. Even if they never play that position, it will help knowing what the other guy is doing,” he said.

Participants will learn proper weight lifting techniques, although they won’t be usingweights. “Our guys will demonstrate and teach them how to lift properly,” Travis said, adding that there will be instruction in form running to increase speed.

“We want to get kids excited about football - that’s already happening here,” he said, adding that there are already 40 youngsters signed up for the camp which is still six weeks away.

“They’ll learn the fundamentals and safety of tackle and how to doit and not get hurt,” he said.

Trainer Jamie Mann will discuss hydration, nutrition, flexibility and injuries.

Students will also be given a word of the day: Teamwork, discipline, character and Blackhawk pride.

On the last day, a parents versus youngsters competition is planned

“We encourage the parents, an older sibling or relative to participate,” Travis said, adding that eachparticipant will receive a T-shirt for himself and for his parent.

The $50 participation fee will pay for T-shirts and trophies. Any proceeds beyond expenses will be for equipment for the new multipurpose facility, Travis said.

Senior high Blackhawks will be involved. The trainer will be present during camp. Coaches include Travis; Lafe Caton, defensive coordinator; Mat Easterling, senior high assistant; Josh Reynolds, head junior high coach; James Ortiz, junior high defensive coordinator; and John King, junior high assistant.

For more information, e-mail Travis at [email protected] or call the administration office at 451-8181.

BLACKHAWK FOOTBALL CAMP Monday, July 25 - Friday, July 29 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Pea Ridge High School $50 per child For more information, e-mail coach Tony Travis at

[email protected] or call the school at 451-8181.

Sports, Pages 7 on 06/15/2011