Pigskin Scramble on the Gridiron
Campers surround Coach Balts wrapping up camp and speaking to the young group about developing skills on and off the field as players, as men, and as valuable members of their community.
By MASHKODE-BIZHIKIGAHBAW, BENJI SAM
The dog days of summer came a little early this year when members of the University of Minnesota Duluth coaching staff as well as some current Bulldog football players arrived in Hinckley on a Thursday morning in late June. The Bulldogs’ coaching staff was coming off a two-week stint of team camps where they were able to work with dozens of teams from around the region to develop individual and team skills, give a chance for teams to scrimmage against teams within their class, and experience on-campus living. With the help of the Mille Lacs Band, these same coaches made the trip to Hinckley to give local players the chance to develop small group skills and practice with the speed and tempo of the collegiate level. In total, 25 area players between 7th and 12th grade showed up at the inaugural UMD Bulldog camp, and there was a familiar energy in the air that can be found across thousands of football fields around the country every fall.
The layout of the day was simple: players would be split into groups and go through introductory performance testing very similar to incoming collegiate or professional players at the beginning of their seasons. These players were tested on their agility, their broad jump distance, and 40-yard dash, and had height and weight taken down to complete the testing portion of the day. The coaches then split into small groups to work on offensive-specific drilling including footwork, attacking the hole, blocking, and many other techniques to build offensive-minded players with an improved understanding of what makes great teams click. They also spent plenty of time working on defensive skill work including footwork, use of hands at the line, angle of pursuit, and most importantly, tackle technique.
Coach Jason Balts of UMD described safe and efficient tackling as an incredibly important part of every defensive player’s game for on the field success. He also described tackling as a major concern for player’s safety and that’s why their staff emphasizes safe tackling in every single snap played. After offensive and defensive skill work, camp gathered for a large group drill the UMD staff calls a razzle dazzle to finish camp with a little fun but also to finish with a competitive aspect of camp. Once the dust settled and the competition was over, the coaches gathered all of camp together for final words, thoughts, and a team breakdown.
The coaches gathered around and each took turns giving advice, and praise, to the group of participants. Coach Balts took the lead and spoke of the UMD Bulldog team mantra: Classroom, community, and competition. “Academics: It’s time consuming, it isn’t always easy; it takes consistency and effort to be great,” he said. “Gentlemen, good football players are first built in the classroom, because without the classroom, you won’t be able to see the field.” He then spoke of community and the importance of giving back, while noting that volunteering to help others can be the most rewarding part about being a team. At UMD, he described, players are asked to volunteer each week to give back to the Duluth area. And finally, the coaching staff spoke about being competitive in anything and everything you are doing and to be a great teammate every chance you get. Every high five, hug, question asked, and hand lent to one another creates a bond strong enough to stand the test of time.
In wrapping up camp, players and coaches alike enjoyed a meal together and sat around for a Q&A with some of the current UMD players. The Bulldog players covered topics on how to stay ahead in the classroom, how to be a great teammate, and the importance of addressing, recognizing, and asking for help with mental health in athletics. “Our team stands with mental health and it’s our job to help end the stigma,” spoke a current Bulldog, “it’s okay to struggle and ask for help sometimes. Your coaches have resources and a drive to help, but you must be open and honest with yourself above all.” That’s the beauty of a team sport like football — it’s about building people up to be a better version of themselves each day.
Tim Taggart, Fitness Director at Meshakwad Community Center, believes this camp can annually be used as a stepping stone for our youth to become more involved as a team. “I grew up around here and never got a chance to do anything like this; we never got the opportunity to see what football, coaching, and life is like after high school,” said Taggart. “This is just our first year of this camp, but it was received well, and all the campers enjoyed it. I think this could really grow into being something special and become a tool to help our youth want to get and stay more involved. I think when they get to see college coaches, players, and the atmosphere of college football, we can really help make a difference in these kids.” At the end of the day, that’s what sports is all about.
Fifty years from now, nobody will remember who won the Town championship in 2022, but they will remember the kind of person you became and how you treated those around you. Building better sporting and artistic programs not only gives kids activities to participate in, but they also help build a sense of responsibility, community, ownership, and respect for the rest of their lives. As far as this single-day football camp goes, it was great to see some excitement build around the sport and was a great chance for our youth to hear from coaches and players from one of the most successful Division 2 football programs in the country. Thanks to UMD football, Hinckley/Finalyson High School, and the Mille Lacs Band for putting together a special day on the gridiron.
