Lil’ Panthers brush up on football techniques

Published 11:00 am Saturday, June 9, 2018

Robots invading football fields? No, just a group learning how to make the best of their movements during plays.

CHULA — Tiftarea Academy’s Lil’ Panther Football Camp wrapped Wednesday after three days of sessions.

Tiftarea head football coach Erik Soliday said the participants were learning the fundamentals of the sport at the three-day camp. Drills included blocking, tackling, running technique and pass catching. Soliday said the activities would “introduce them to all of it.”

During the wide range of passing drills, players learned to not only catch with their hands (instead of their bodies) but different types of routes, including out and up, deep routes and slant routes.

As the players aged and went into more specialized roles, Soliday said they might not have a chance to play every position, like they were doing this week. Players in camp ranged from grades 1-8.

This was Soliday’s first year in charge of the camp. He took over the football program at Tiftarea in late January, replacing Tully Payne.

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