Happy campers: Pioneer coaches teach football basics

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Coach Matt Turner watches as Lee Cantrell, left, and August Columbo work on their blocking techniques.

Pioneer head football coach Gerald Tidwell and his staff have been busy this week putting on the “Little Man” football camp. The camp started Monday with 20 young men between the age of 7 and 12 who are excited and ready to learn.

Coach Tidwell and his staff are teaching the basics of the game to the future Pioneer players.

Fundamentals such as blocking techniques, calling signals and the three step drop are just a few of the many things the campers are learning this week.

“I’m very pleased with our turnout. There are a lot of ball tournaments going on this week and to have this many kids to show up is great. They are out here having a good time but the most important thing is they’re learning about football. If you make it fun for them then it makes it easier for them to learn,” said coach Tidwell.

This is just the first step in coach Tidwell’s plans of getting more kids interested in football at an early age.

“This is our future at the high school. These kids will be there in three or four years and we want to make every effort to reach out to as many kids as possible. Next spring I hope we can send a coach and a couple of players out to the county schools so we can hold football clinics there. We just want to keep the younger players excited about the game,” Tidwell said.