VALDOSTA —
Coaches from the Valdosta High varsity football team gave a free seminar to Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority youth football coaches at the Mildred Hunter Community Center in Valdosta on Saturday morning.
Coaches spoke to the group of youth coaches on hand about various drills associated with their position. The Valdosta coaches also spoke about various techniques that are used at the high school level and how to best prepare youth players for the game of football at the next level.
“Anything that we can do to help our youth leagues around here, we want to do,” Valdosta head coach Rance Gillespie said.
“We are excited about working with Coach Gillespie,” said Andre Newson, who runs the Mildred Hunter Center, “and him teaching fundamentals for our youth football program.”
Since his arrival at Valdosta High in 2010, Gillespie has pushed for his coaching staff to reach out to youth coaches throughout the Valdosta community to help better prepare those coaches and the players.
“I think good programs are built from a very, very young age,” Gillespie said. “Getting kids involved in football, getting kids playing at a young age, is a main priority for us.”
Involvement at a young age also helps build future Valdosta High players at a younger age, making them better players once they arrive for their freshman season.
“From a selfish standpoint, this is going to help us,” Gillespie said. “The more they develop these kids, the better the football players they are going to be. Anything we can do to help the community involvement and help the youth, we are going to do.”
VLPRA youth football registration is underway and is open until Aug. 11, the day the Authority will hold its youth football draft. Interested persons looking to register for the youth football league may contact the Authority by calling the VLRPA at (229) 259-3507.
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Related Photos
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Valdosta offensive line coach Mark Loudermilk goes through a drill during Saturday’s coaching clinic at the Mildred Hunter Community Center in Valdosta. Ed Hooper | The Valdosta Daily Times
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Valdosta assistant coach Ken Eldridge demonstrates a drill on Saturday at the Mildred Hunter Community Center. Ed Hooper | The Valdosta Daily Times
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