Kids from the third- to the eighth-grade who want to be high school football players got a taste of the future when they participated in the third annual Mini-Mustang Youth Football Camp held at North Moore High School June 22. Under the guidance of Mustang head football coach Greg Simmons and his staff, these future gridiron stars ran through many of the same drills that North Moore’s junior varsity and varsity players run.

The campers ran a variety of drills, including the ladder drill, used the speed bag and learned the NFL shift. The coaching staff also taught the campers how to get into a three-point stance, and how to block and tackle using blocking and tackling dummies. They also learned how to run passing routes and ran the 20-yard dash.

“This was an opportunity for these younger kids to learn about football here at North Moore,” said Simmons, who is entering his third year at the helm of the Mustang football program. “We taught and ran through some of the drills we do here at North Moore. The kids really worked hard and enjoyed themselves. We’re out here to have some fun.”

A couple of the varsity football players help coach Simmons and his staff with the drills, in Jake Green and Nathan Hussey.

After running drills in the morning, the campers went to the field house, where they had a lunch of hot dogs, chips, cookies and sodas. While they were eating, they were treated to a highlight film of the Mustangs’ football games from last season. Each camper also received a camp T-shirt.

Camper Preston Greene, a rising sixth-grader at West Moore, said “I really enjoyed the camp, and I had a lot of fun. I liked learning about tackling and hitting the dummies. I also learned how to set up doing the three-point stance. I want to play defensive end when I start playing.”

Another camper, Koleman Shaw, a rising seventh-grader at West Moore, said, “It was fun being out here and learning about football. It was fun being around the coaches. I learned a lot that should help when I play middle school football when school starts.”

Simmons’ sentiments about the experience echoed those of the campers

“It’s fun for me and the staff to get out here and work with these young players,” said Simmons. “After all, they are the future of the North Moore football program.”

The 2012 football season is slated to start with preseason practice beginning July 30. The first preseason scrimmage will be played Aug. 8, and the regular season starts with the Mustangs visiting Union Academy in Monroe Aug. 17.