by RANDY GREGORY
One of the first harbingers of the impending football season is taking place as of this week. The Rockford Team Camp is running July 10 through July 12 at Rockford High School and the numbers are absolutely staggering. There are 380 participants in all, and every member of the Rockford coaching staff from 78ers to the varsity level is part of the festivities.
“We are absolutely capped out,” said Rockford Coach Ralph Munger. “We will have over 70 varsity players, and 50 each of JV and freshman players. The 78ers from Rockford North and East Middle School will be there as well. And we are also pleased to welcome Joe Schwander [former Ram assistant and new varsity coach at Belding] and his kids from Belding.”
Fundamentals and drills are a major part of the three-day camp. It also gives the coaches a chance to get to know the kids and see their various strengths and weaknesses in the upcoming season.
“This is a very valuable part of the preseason process for us as a coaching staff,” said Munger. “We use this to evaluate the talent level and work on our speed and quickness. You can never have enough depth and this will allow us to see who has been putting in the time necessary to become a better player. We have only seven weeks till the season starts and every time we get together is important. We don’t use all of the days the state allows us to because we also want the players to have some time for fun in the summer. That is why we need to maximize the time we do have together.”
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