CORDOVA — The Edisto football team and coaching staff took some time off this week from conditioning and summer workouts to look toward the future.

The Cougars held their fifth annual youth football camp at Edisto High School this week, helping young kids become better acquainted with how to play football. With over 40 kids participating, things look bright for Edisto football.

“This camp gives us an opportunity to show kids the right way to play football,” Edisto coach Andy Palmer said. “These kids get to come out and play on our practice field and get a feel for what our team is about.”

The camp started in conjunction with Edisto Sports Inc. for a way to get kids excited about playing football. Most of the young kids at the camp will be playing in the Edisto football league this fall, and maybe later playing for the Cougars.

“We have kids here ranging from 4 to 14, all trying to learn more about football,” Palmer said. “We do all types of drills and punt, pass and kick competitions. This is kind of a jump start for these kids in the summer.”

The camp also plants a seed in each of the participants minds about wanting to stick with playing football even when they reach high school age.

“These kids get to come out here and experience a little bit of what our team does on a regular basis,” Palmer said. “Each one of these kids is going to come to the games and see the players that they will see on Thursday and Friday night. Any kid that comes to the games knows that they want to be out on that field one day.”

The camp is also a way to train the kids to get better, so when they are ready to make the jump to a higher league, they will know the proper techniques and strategies.

“Some of the kids on our varsity team could have been out here five years ago when we started this,” Palmer said. “They know what to do and how to do it. One of the highlights of the camp is when the kids are ready to come up to us, they are prepared for what we’re going to do. They know how to play and understand what they have to do. We’re seeing some turnover already in the program.”

Palmer uses his team and staff to get a chance to meet and greet the kids that will be coming to watch his team when the season starts.

“With our players helping, it gives those kids a chance to be seen without a football uniform on,” Palmer said. “The younger kids get a chance to get to know the players they will be watching during the season. Our staff gets a chance to mingle with the kids and get to know some of them. It really is about community outreach.”

The Cougars are getting ready for the fall with a lot of expectations after a good season last year. They will be working out this summer trying to faster and stronger.

“Right now we’re all about weight-lifting and conditioning,” Palmer said. “We’ll have 7-on-7’s during the summer, but this is a chance to get out and have some fun with the game of football.”

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