By Amy Batista, Special Writer
The Florence Township Football Association hosted its eighth annual Joe Frappolli Football Camp last week.
The camp began on July 21 and concluded on July 23 with the AJM Insurance Youth Football Clinic featuring the Philadelphia Soul at the Florence Township Memorial High School field located at 1050 Cedar Lane.
”This past camp was our most successful camp,” said Joe Frappolli. “It runs for three nights towards the end of July each summer prior to our youth organization starting football practice officially.”
He noted that the camp is named after his father Joe Frappolli Sr. but he organizes most of the camp.
The clinic featured four stations including a hand-off and zig-zag through cones, a Soul ball toss, a bag tackle and rap race, and a step over fill hole drill. The evening also included door prizes featuring a Ron Jaworski autographed Soul jersey and a Ron Jaworski autographed Soul football.
Florence Township Recreation Director Martin Eckert Jr. said recreation football players at the camp were sponsored by the recreation football program.
”This year we were able to provide something special in that the Philadelphia Soul was able to be part of the camp and work with the kids,” said Mr. Eckert Jr. “It is the first time that the Soul took part and the turnout for the camp has been tremendous.”
There were a total of 85 campers and almost 40 of those were sponsored campers, Mr. Frappolli said.
”We started the camp as a way of giving back to young kids while teaching the core fundamentals of football,” he said. “All high school and youth coaches who work the camp are volunteers and all proceeds go back into the football program. We collect donations from many local businesses and past alumni to provide sponsorships for children who may not be able to afford the cost of the camp.”
He said that they were “very fortunate to have the Philadelphia Soul attend this year’s camp.”
”They were great to work alongside and the kids loved having professionals like the Philadelphia Soul come to the camp,” he said.
In 2012, Tony Mahon, president of AJM Insurance and a sponsor of the camp, wanted to create something special for the kids in the community.
”He remembered participating in summer youth football camps as a kid so he came up with the AJM Insurance Youth Football Summer Series,” said Robert Deaton Jr., publicist for Tony Mahon and AJM Insurance, adding that he was already a sponsor for the Philadelphia Soul so he just combined the two.
AJM Insurance presented Florence Township Recreation with a $250 check during the clinic.
Mr. Deaton noted that Mr. Mahon wanted to create a place “where kids would be able to work with local football professionals.”
”It is so important to work with youth today, providing them with role models and mentors as is the case with all the coaches who work with the kids at this clinic,” said Mr. Mahon.
The Philadelphia Soul players and soul mates who were in attendance at the clinic included James Romain, Wayne Tribue, Jerome Williams Jr., and Julius Williams.
Justin Kleindienst, 14, of Roebling, attended the last four camps and he is an incoming freshman this year at the high school.
”They teach the fundamentals of the game and teamwork,” said Justin. “I feel it is a good addition to regular practices and I learn what to expect next year from the high school coaches.”
He said he enjoyed working out with the Philadelphia Soul players.
”It was fun,” he said, adding that he is looking forward to coming back next year as a volunteer player/coach to help the younger kids.
His mom, Laura Kleindienst, of Roebling, liked that her son could meet and work with high school coaches to learn coaching styles.
”As a parent, I like the fact that he can meet and work with the high school coaches so he knows how they interact with the players, what each of their coaching styles and personalities are and the coaches also have that same opportunity to observe the players,” said Ms. Kleindienst. “They get to know the kids and watch them and help them with anything that needs improving.”
Mr. Eckert noted that there were more than a dozen coaches from both the high school football staff and recreation football staff that worked with the children each evening.
”There are so many coaches and older, experienced players all in one place to observe, help and teach the kids the basics of game play, safety, fitness, fair play,” Ms. Kleindienst said.
She said the most important aspect is to have fun.
”To me that is of the utmost importance,” she said.
Luke Skinner, 9, of Roebling, participated in the camp for the past three years.
His father, Douglas, said, “The camp is a very positive, fun and informational experience for the kids that have not played football in the past.”
He added that it is “an extremely well managed and positive experience for all of the kids.”
”He gets to practice in positions that he normally does not play during the year and that is fun,” he said, adding that his son usually is a lineman and coaches let him try running back at the camp.
For Luke, the highlight of the camp was practicing with the Philadelphia Soul players.
”They were big guys, but funny and good coaches,” Mr. Skinner said, adding that the high school players/coaches were also funny and had a good time.
”They all have good attitudes during the camp,” he said.
”It was wonderful to see so many children from the community smiling ear to ear as they interacted with the Philadelphia Soul players and our Florence Flashes football staff,” Mr. Eckert Jr. said. “It was a collective effort which made the Soul’s appearance possible and it was well worth it.”
The professionalism and enthusiasm that was brought to the field was contagious and everyone from the kids to the staff to the families in the bleachers truly enjoyed their Soul experience, he added.
”We encourage our local families to explore the recreation sports programs and camps so that their children can enjoy healthy activity through sports, make new friends and learn the fundamentals and sportsmanship that recreation activity provides,” he said. “We also encourage parents to volunteer to coach in these programs and to invite other family and friends to sit in the stands to cheer on the kids.”
He said it was a “special atmosphere” this week at the camp.
”It was a nice blend of fun, football and Philadelphia Soul,” he said.
Mr. Frappolli Jr. noted that the camp is a lot of work to organize and put together.
”It is well worth it to see how much fun the kids have and how much they learn from the camp,” he said. “Many of the campers leave with a tremendous excitement to start the football season and even can’t wait for the following year’s camp.”