Tractor Tires, Medicine Balls Give Young Gridders Taste Of What’s To Come      

By Andy Hutchison

Flipping tractor treads, playing “Move The Mountain” with 25-pound weights, and a good old tire tug-o-war battle were just a few of the strength training/teamwork drills up and coming youth football players performed on the practice field behind Newtown High School throughout the middle of July.

Elementary and middle school age football players, hoping to continue strapping on the pads at the high school level in years to come, participated in the Football Preparation Camp under the direction of Steve George, Newtown High’s head football coach, and Cody Foss, director of speed training at Newtown Youth Academy.

The camp included football-related drills — emphasizing blocking, catching, and running — and plenty of fitness-based activity. Young pigskin players got a scaled down version of the preseason high school strength training program run by George and Foss.

“We’re trying to give them a watered down version of what to expect when they get to the varsity program,” said Foss, adding that the camp is a continuation of the Newtown Youth Football program mirroring the high school program to make the transition smooth for the players and coaches. “The varsity kids are doing the same kinds of things — just with heavier weights, more intensity, and probably more competitive.”

“Everything’s focused on them competing and that just makes them better,” George added. “It teaches them the value of the strength and conditioning program we have here in Newtown, and the value of working together and accomplishing one goal like they’re going to do today,” said George, alluding to the end-of-camp “Strongman competition.”

On the last day of the session, the players were broken into balanced teams and competed in several strengthening events. They worked in rotating groups to flip tractor tires on a course across the field. There was the medicine ball relay event, weighted sled pull, and tug-o-war using a tire instead of a rope. The “Move The Mountain” event required team members to run 25 yards to collect a 25-pound weight and race back to stack them before tagging the next teammate to continue the event. “It’s a lot of fun. Kids enjoy the competition — it’s kind of a mental break,” Foss said.

Rising seventh grader Patrick Conte said he likes the medicine ball relay event the best. “It’s working on your strength and your speed and it’s good competition — and really fun,” Conte explained.

As for the camp as a whole — “I love it. It’s really fun and it’s good preparation for football. The coaches do a great job and it’s fun being with your friends and stuff,” Conte added.

“I like it a lot. It’s a great workout and a great way to get ready for the fall football season. Coach George and Coach Cody do a great job with it,” added Bobby Haskins, a soon-to-be seventh grader.

George added that it’s rewarding to work with the future high schoolers and get to know them in a football setting. “Cody and I like working with the younger kids because we get to see them come up through the program,” George said.