Bronco Football Camp 2012

Jake has done the Boise State Bronco Football camp for the last two years. This is the first year that Tanner has been able to do it as well. Jake has really enjoyed it the last two years, so Tanner was really excited to be able to do it this time. Jake took him up and introduced him to Coach Peterson the 1st day.


I have mentioned in the past that I like this camp because it was really well organized. They break the kids into three "leagues" based on age (Tanner was in the Arena League this year, Jake was in College). Then work on offensive drills, defensive drills, special team drills and then they play Bronco Ball, which is basically touch football. The coaches are all the BSU coaching staff and the kids get good instruction in the fundamentals and then have a lot of fun playing football. Additionally, the staff addresses the team each day about respect, teamwork and fair play.


Tanner did really well for his first time. He was one of the smallest kids on his team. He just went thru a growth sport and got taller, but is just skin and bones. He knows how to throw and catch though, so he was better than a lot of the kids in his league. He had fun doing the drills and enjoyed playing football, even scoring a couple of touchdowns. It's funny to see how he approaches it as opposed to Jake. Jake was always very into it and competitive during the games, getting upset when he threw an interception and cheering when his team scored. Tanner did what he was supposed to and was into it, but just seemed to roll with it more than Jake does. He's just more "Tanner" and it's really great to see how he's his own person and is true to himself. 

The camp was three days long and finished up today. Jake is still playing baseball, but Tanner is done with sports for a little bit as there really isn't anything for his age group that is appropriate for his skill level. Jake is still playing baseball and has practice tonight.


I did notice that there were considerably less kids at this years camp than in the past, it used to be packed. I wonder if this is the beginning of the trickle down of the concussion issue to youth football. Jake likely had a concussion last year in flag football and I'm nervous about him in tackle this year as he is so little for his age. I have gotten to a point that if they say they don't want to play football anymore it wouldn't break my heart, but in talking it over with Marisa, it's not something we will tell them they can't do. It will be interesting to see if Tanner is drawn to football the way Jake is. They are both so good at baseball, I'm hoping that sport just has a natural draw for them. They can play it for three seasons if they don't play football.