We are getting to that time of year when football is so close I can almost taste it.
Yay, football!
Fortunately for me, our Jaguars are starting to get into a football frame of mind, offering a Got Skills? rookie training camp for kids. Mr PugRunner heard of it about a week before it happened. The camp was open to 200 children, and Mr PugRunner had to send in a waiver form and check for $5 in advance. We were hopeful that little man would be one of the 200.
Two days before the event, we got the confirmation email. We had to arrive at the training facility of Everbank Field on Friday at 9:00 to register and then prepare to spend some hours on the field with a group of the 2014 Jaguars rookies, who would coach the kids through different drills.
The kids checked in and received really cute t-shirts that they could wear or save for later. We listened to speeches from some members of the Jaguars organization and then the rookies were introduced. They seemed just as excited as the kids to be out there, which was nice.
Each child was given a colored wristband, which determined the group they would join out on the field. The announcer gave instructions, directing each group to their starting point, and the air horn blared.
Little man had the best time. He paid close attention, made sure to take lots of water breaks (it was hot out there, and each drill area was equipped with a hydration station to be used at will) and waited patiently for his turn. From what we could see from the sidelines, he really engaged with the players, too.
After about 90 minutes, the final air horn blew and everyone on the field gathered up for a big group photo. Such happy faces!
An autograph station had been set up under a canopy, and we were so excited to get to thank all the players as they signed little man’s shirt, especially former Hurricanes Allen Hurns and Brandon Linder.
They were all very kind and personable and we had a lovely time chatting as we moved through the line.
It was a wonderful morning of fitness and football. Little man is almost as excited as we are for the start of the season, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to want to be back on a team come winter.
Do any of your local teams offer clinics like this for the kids?
Are you excited for football season?
The Buccaneers hold a kids camp every year too! I haven’t had a little boy to take to it yet, but that will just be a few years in the making.
Looks like your little dude had a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to having a little boy for thing like this. We are definitely a football/baseball family. So I see lots of little league and pee wee football in our future.
Haley @ Running with Diapers recently posted…Friday Five – Things About Me
It will take over your life LOL! Little man played one season of flag football and we are going on season 5 of tball. It’s insane between practice, games, concessions, etc. We love every second of it, but I never imagined how packed our schedule would become!
How fun is that!! Little man looks like he had a BLAST!
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It was so fun!
That sounds like so much fun!
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It was awesome!