As the summer heats up, so are the Russellville High School varsity football team’s preparations for the 2024 season. However, next week, current Golden Tiger coaches and players will take a day to mentor the upcoming generations of Golden Tiger football players.
On Tuesday, July 16th, from 6:30 P.M. until 8:30 P.M., the Russellville football program will host a summer camp for boys in kindergarten through the sixth grade at Golden Tiger Stadium.
“Russellville has a long-standing tradition of good athletics, and I think in order to sustain that it’s important to have our youth around our kids and be a part of it,” said Russellville head coach Dustin Goodwin, who is entering his first season in charge of the football program. “I think it’s a good time for kids and coaches to invest in our young people.”
As advertised on social media, the Russellville youth camp offers “fun, fundamentals, and learning basic football techniques and skills.” The cost of the camp is $50 and those interested can pre-register online.
“I hope (the camp participants) learn a little bit about football and the fundamentals of the game,” Goodwin said. “I hope they have a good time, and I hope it makes them want to come watch the varsity play on Friday nights and be a part of the program.”
Russellville coaches, assisted by players, will teach the camp participants key basics and tenets of the game—that will be the main focus—but Goodwin is hoping his current players will get something out of the experience, too.
“I think it’s important for everyone to learn how to serve other people and bring a smile to their face,” he said. “And from a football standpoint, if you know how to teach something then generally you have a good idea of what you’re talking about. If you can teach it right and know the fundamentals and ins-and-outs of it then you’ve probably got a good grasp on it, and that’ll help you as a player, too.”
The kids camp is just one of the many activities the football team is working on this summer. In gearing up for the upcoming campaign, the Golden Tigers have held workouts, practices, speed training, varsity camps, and 7-on-7 competitions.
After spring training and through summer workouts and training up to this point, Goodwin said he’s seen his squad steadily improve, but there is still work to be done before the Golden Tigers are ready to hit the field this fall.
“I think we’ve got a much better idea of where we’re supposed to be and what we’re supposed to be doing. We’re getting into a routine,” he said. “From a schematics standpoint, we’re not where we need to be, but we’re slowly installing in hopes that more is remembered and retained, and then we focus on doing those things at a high level.
“Over the course of the summer there are dates where several people are out, whether it be play dates with other sports; whether it be family vacations or emergencies or training for coaches or whatever it may be,” Goodwin added. “We’re just really looking forward to when we can have everyone here together all the same time.”
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