Camp trains future Wolves for the gridiron

The future of Green River football was on display at Wolves Stadium during the last few days.

The Wolves' coaching staff, with the help of several players, hosted a football camp to pass along some of the skills to kids in fourth through eighth grades. While the camp helps develop talent and, hopefully, makes enough of an impression on some of the kids to keep involved with the sport and join the high school team, head coach Don Maggi has another reason to work with the kids.

"We want to win, but it's more important to have fun," Maggi told kids at the end of their camp Monday.

While having fun is important, Maggi also educated kids on the importance of properly hydrating themselves during activity, talking about how the body needs water to properly function. Playing in temperatures averaging in the high 80s, Maggi told the kids to feel free to run to the water fountain if they need to drink as they practice.

The camp has been an annual event in Green River for the past seven years, according to Kevin Sadler, recreation supervisor at the Green River Recreation Center. The center handles the registration aspect of the football camp, while the football team provide the instruction and equipment used. Sadler said the camp also functions as a fundraiser for the football team's booster club, as all the money collected from registration fees are donated to the club. Sadler said the program also gives the football players a chance to get experience coaching younger players and perform a community service.

"It's a nice way to help the program out," Sadler said.

The Wolves also enjoyed hosting the camp. Players working with the kids brought energy and excitement to the drills they had the younger kids take part in.

"It's a lot of fun," Wolves football player Hunter Spartz, said.