Pat Dowling looks forward to running the New York Giants Youth Football Camp each summer.
Dowling, the defensive coordinator at Point Pleasant Borough High School, will direct the camp at Howell Memorial Middle School, Adelphia Road, Howell, July 16-20.
This marks the camp’s sixth summer.
“I enjoy this,” Dowling said. “The exciting part is that for some kids, it is their first exposure to football. We try and make it fun and help them develop an interest in the sport.”
The coach said that while teaching the fundamentals of tackling and blocking, along with throwing, running and catching the football are certainly a part of the camp, he likes the fact that football is a team game and he gets to teach the campers “life lessons.”
Dowling said the 8- to 10-year-olds who may be getting their introduction to football provide the camp with a lot of energy. During the camp, which is for children between the ages of 6 and 14, former members of the New York Giants will join Dowling and his staff and provide instruction to the youngsters in the non-contact football camp.
The former Giants include Keith Elias, BillArd, Stephen Baker, Chris Calloway, Eric Dorsey, Sam Garnes, Rodney Hampton, Billy Taylor and Perry Williams.
Dowling said the former Giants are cooperative and fun to work with.
“They’re great,” he said. “They come by for two days, speak and sign autographs. They’re down to earth and good with kids.”
The camp in Howell will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Registration is still open. Visit www.NYGiantsCamps.com or call 877- 226-9919 to register.