Leading up to the first football game are countless hours of practice and hard work.
Every year, the Kickapoo Chiefs get a break during fall camp, where they spend special time with family.
Tradition has to start somewhere.
“My first year here we did a senior, senior, dad trip,” said Kickapoo football coach Nate Thomas.
That father-son bonding left out an important member of the family.
“The mom’s kind of got a little upset that first year that they didn’t have anything, so this was actually one of our moms that came up with it,” Thomas said.
That’s when ‘Mom Camp’ was born.
“We got them all dressed up, they’re in war paint. They’re not out here to mess around, they’re ready to get after it a little bit,” said Thomas.
“To get an opportunity to see what he (Jackson Young) has to do at practice and learning his position. Obviously as a female, we never got to play football so it’s just a really awesome opportunity,” Kickapoo mom Tammy Young said.
Running back and linebacker Jackson Young is tabbed with coaching his mom, Tammy.
“It’s just funny to teach them, sometimes they get lost but (we) just try to guide them in the right direction,” said Jackson.
He also taught his mom a few secrets.
“Block shedding maybe for running back, stiff arm, spins, jukes,” said Jackson.
“Going after the quarterback on outside linebacker, stiff arm as much as I can,” his mom added.
However, ‘Mom Camp’ is about more than football.
“A great time to get together, just the two of us and nobody else,” Tammy Young said.
“The bonding experience with my mom is just awesome,” said Jackson.
In return, coaches appreciate the role reversal.
“We always have the kids come in and talk to us like ‘coach we get what you’re saying and wanting us to pay attention because I had to coach mom last night,’” said Thomas.
For the moms, with knowledge comes power.
“I’m definitely going to be after him after the games this year. For sure, with all my knowledge,” Tammy Young said.
Coach Thomas says he had moms approach him about wearing pads during this practice, but he’s decided to stick to flag football for now.
