Youth Served

Lely High School head football coach Ben Hammer knows that in order to have success at the varsity level, youth must be served. That forward looking attitude was on display in a free three-day youth football camp that wrapped up Wednesday, July 10, at Trojan Stadium.

“We're a community-driven sport,” Hammer said, “we're a community program. I think it's really important that our players and coaches give back to the community. So, we'll always put on this free youth camp. They're not all in our zone or our area, but the majority of the campers are, and they’re the future of our program. So, it's important to start establishing those relationships now.”

Part of Lely’s challenge over the years has been keeping their outstanding athletes in district. 

"It's very important,” Hammer said, "and more difficult to do now than it ever has been. That being said, I think we do a pretty good job and have done a pretty good job of bringing the people in the Lely district back to Lely and ensuring that they want to stay and giving them a reason to stay through player experience and establishing relationships."

Campers ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade were put through the paces by members of Hammer’s coaching staff. Several players on Hammer’s varsity squad were given leadership positions at the camp.

“Having fun,” he said, "is the most important thing. But then we also want to accomplish the life skills that we try and teach to our high school kids and the coaches this week. Self-confidence, being a great teammate, being on time. The high school kids are actually giving character lessons at all the breaks about the specific intangibles that we look for in people. The kids are always going to be a microcosm of the coaches and kind of follow in our footsteps.”

At the end of the day, Hammer wants to keep the focus on the kids enjoying the game.

The number one thing is to have fun,” Hammer said. "It's a game. It's a kid's game. And as adults, and even as high school kids sometimes, you lose sight of that. Football is the ultimate team sport. It doesn't matter how big you are, how small you are, fast or slow, what color you are, religion, race, political affiliation—none of that matters out here. It's just a great team sport."