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Youth Center football camp instills confidence

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sam Fogleman
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The 2014 football season got off to its unofficial start here July 28 to July 30 for a three-day youth football camp held at the main football field.
 
Children from the ages of 5 to 15 years old, primarily from the base community, were given the opportunity to showcase and hone their skills in the areas of blocking, passing, receiving and other drills.

"The idea behind the football camp and offering it this time of year is so kids can get prepared," said Ryan Frost, the 92nd Force Support Squadron Youth Center sports program manager. "If they do Pop Warner, junior high football or high school football, kids in the area can get a pre-camp in before their season started. We are going to be running a fall flag football league, too, so this is sort of a precursor."

Fairchild military members were on hand to run various exercises for the kids.

"I thought the camp went very well," said 1st Lt. Zach Payne, the 92nd Contracting Squadron base infrastructure flight commander. "I thoroughly enjoyed having an opportunity to pass on my love and enthusiasm for the game to the next generation of players. The camp had an experienced group of coaches who really focused on the fundamentals of the game, which will hopefully give the players a solid foundation to build on. With the start of football season quickly approaching, the camp was a great way to set the players up for success this fall."

Payne was a defensive lineman during his time with the United States Air Force Academy Falcons.

Another notable former Falcon, Col. Brian Hill, the 92nd Air Refueling Wing vice commander and former defensive back, made an appearance running drills the third day of the camp.

"The opportunity to reinforce the principles of commitment, dedication, leadership and teamwork at this camp is tremendous," Hill said. "Each of the coaches can attest to the life-changing benefits that participation in organized sports provided from grade school through college. We're grateful for the support of our outstanding Youth Center Sports Program, managed by Ryan Frost, which enabled us to host the camp and help ignite a passion for football in these great youngsters."

For further information about base youth football programs, contact the Youth Center at (509) 247-5601.