Feb. 27, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head coach Bill O'Brien and the Penn State Football staff will welcome high school players from across the nation to the Nittany Lions' 38th annual summer football camps, which get underway June 2.
Penn State will offer six football camp opportunities in June, including two Advanced Skills camps, in addition to Position, Youth and Kicking Camps. The popular 7-on-7 Team Camp also returns.
Close to 3,000 players annually attend Penn State Football Camps, making it one of the most successful high school football camp operations in the country. The instructional sessions are held at Penn State's expansive grass and artificial turf fields, or in case of inclement weather, in the Nittany Lions' indoor facilities, including Holuba Hall.
Penn State Football camp information, including online registration forms, can be found by visiting www.pennstatefootballcamps.com or GoPSUsports.com/camps. Interested individuals can also contact the Penn State Sports Camp office at 814-865-0561, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Advanced Skills Camps will be held June 2 and 16 and are open to athletes entering 11th or 12th grade this fall. The camp is designed for experienced high school players who want to elevate their skills in preparation for their upcoming season and playing football beyond high school. The camp's primary focus is on position-specific skill and technique development.
The Penn State Kicking Camp is June 17 and open for athletes entering 8th-12th grade this fall. The camp is designed for kicking specialists looking to learn or improve their skills in placekicking and punting. Each player will receive instruction in specific drills and techniques through on-the-field and lecture sessions. The Penn State coaching staff, assisted by former Nittany Lion placekickers and punters, will provide the instruction.
The Penn State 7-on-7 Team Camp is June 23. This popular camp is designed to provide a quality teaching opportunity for a high school coaching staff to create a competitive learning situation for players against excellent competition. Many top high school teams attend this camp and all participants also will take part in a speed and movement session with the Penn State Football strength and conditioning staff. The lineman sessions include drill and technique work with the Penn State offensive and defensive line coaches.
The Penn State Youth Camp will be held June 24 and is open to students entering grades 4-7 this fall. The camp is designed to teach basic fundamentals in all positions creating a strong foundation as an athlete progresses in his football career. Besides both offensive and defensive fundamentals, agility, balance, movement, speed enhancement, conditioning, hydration and sportsmanship will be highlighted.
The Penn State Position Camp is set for June 28-30 and also is for athletes entering 8th-12th grade this fall. This camp is designed to give players the opportunity to enhance basic football related skills, while also learning individual football techniques and fundamentals. In addition to Coach O'Brien and the Penn State staff, top high school and college coaches from across the country will provide instruction. Through lectures, demonstrations and drill sessions, camp participants will receive position-specific skill and technique development.
O'Brien and his staff also will welcome several hundred coaches for the Penn State Annual Football Coaches Clinic, set for March 30-31 on the University Park campus. The spring clinic will feature sessions with the Nittany Lions' offensive and defensive coaching staffs on March 30. Clinic attendees will have an opportunity to observe a full practice on March 31, as the Nittany Lions will be in the midst of spring practice.
Coaches interested in attending the clinic can register or get more information by visiting http://www.gopsusports.com/camps/fb-coaches-clinic.html. Coaches also can get information by calling 814-865-0561, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Nittany Lions were 2011 Big Ten Leaders Division co-champions and played in their fourth consecutive New Year's bowl game and 44th bowl overall. The Nittany Lions' 827 all-time victories rank No. 5 in the nation and their 27 bowl wins are third-highest nationally.
Penn State opens its 126th season on Sept. 1. The Nittany Lions will host Ohio State, Wisconsin, Northwestern (Oct. 6-Homecoming), Indiana, Navy, Temple and Ohio University in Beaver Stadium this fall. For season ticket information, fans should call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The pricing of Penn State football game tickets and accompanying donation levels is the same as in 2011.