Shamrocks football team hits annual overnight camp at AWC
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The Yuma Catholic Shamrocks football team is continuing a longstanding preseason tradition as the it prepares for the upcoming season with its annual overnight football camp at Arizona Western College.
The team recently packed up and traveled to the Arizona Western campus for the camp, which has been a staple of the program for years. This marks the fourth year the event has been hosted at Arizona Western.
For head coach Marty Schaetzle, the camp serves a purpose that extends far beyond football drills and playbooks.
"It's team bonding," Schaetzle said. "It's getting to know each other a little bit better. It's just coming together and developing some chemistry. Not to mention, you can have all your focus on the X's and O's."
One way the coaching staff keeps players focused on the playbook is by temporarily taking away one of their most valued possessions: their cell phones. Shamrocks quarterback Scout Reese shared his thoughts.
"Some people hate it, some people like it," he said. "I don't really mind it. You get some time away from your phone. You get to spend time with your friends and bond with them."
The camp is designed to encourage players to interact with teammates they may not know as well.
Whether it is assigning different seating arrangements during meals or creating opportunities for players to spend time together, the emphasis remains on building relationships throughout the roster.
"We do a lot of different things," Reese said. "We sit with different people at lunch. We have to, so we get to know them because it takes a team to win games. It doesn't just take individuals, so we all [have to] get to know each other. It's really nice honestly."
Schaetzle believes the experience can also provide players with a glimpse of what life could be like after high school, particularly for those who hope to continue their football careers at the collegiate level.
"It's a great experience for them being on this campus because it's a little bit what it's going to be like in college," Schaetzle said. "So, if their ambition is to go away to college - to go away to college and play football - this is a great experience for them."
While the camp allows the Shamrocks to focus on football and continue laying the foundation for the season, Schaetzle emphasized that it is only the beginning of the team’s development.
"It is a first step," Schaetzle said. "I mean it's not the end all, but it's a first step and you've seen what progress we've made."
The camp concludes on Friday, giving the Shamrocks one final opportunity to focus strictly on mental preparation before padded practices begin Monday as the team continues its march toward the start of the season.
