The SunnyD Fred Taylor Football ProCamp was held at St. Johns Country Day School over the first two days of July this summer. Aided by a team of local prep and college football coaches, the former Pro Bowl running back led 300 campers through a series of drills specializing in different skills and situations. The participants ranged between first and eighth graders and were each given personal instruction throughout. The camp was sponsored by multiple local organizations to provide scholarships for disadvantaged youth in the area.
Taylor ran a station that worked on the fundamentals of man coverage; fluid backpedals, turning your hips when the receiver cuts, finding the ball in the air. When it was time to switch to the next station, the groups hustled to the next posts. But Taylor held his students behind so the players at the end of the line received the same direction and attention as those in the front.
After the position drills were over, it was time for The Smokehouse. The campers competed in a footrace to determine who was the fastest in each age division, and the excitement level rose even higher. The coaches created an atmosphere that balanced fun and competition.
There was a Q & A session between Taylor and the campers after that. They were asked what they learned from their two days on the field. Answers ranged from approaching the game with the right attitude to always acting in a way that makes you a good teammate.
Taylor opened up to them as well. He admitted to being “a knucklehead” early on in his high school days, causing him to lose his athletic eligibility. He stressed the importance of working hard in the classroom as well as on the field.
ProCamps, Inc. is based in Cincinnati and specializes in planning and executing youth athletic camps. Partnered with some of the most visible and marketable athletes in professional sports, ProCamps has developed a reputation as an industry leader among parents, sponsors, agents and players.
Special Feature/ North Florida/ July 2014
The SunnyD Fred Taylor Football ProCamp
St. Johns Country Day
Orange Park, FL
Brandon Ibarra
Area Youth Hone Their Game at Fred Taylor Football Camp
