Watch CBS News

Tomlin Hosts Local Kids At Annual Youth Football Camp

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- More than 200 young people enjoyed Thursday's great weather by spending it outdoors.

They took part in a youth football camp hosted by Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin at Brashear High School.

The kids, ages 7 to 14, learned all about football from some of the best in the business.

"We're gonna have fun; we're gonna play football; we are going to develop skills centered around this game," Tomlin told the kids.

The young athletes were ready to take the field with some of the pros they look up to.

"I have six jerseys, a lot of Terrible Towels," said Khaleece Phas, a camper. "I want to be on the Steelers football team when I get older."

The kids, many involved with organizations like Urban Impact and the Boys & Girls Club were divided up in teams.

Each team had its own Steeler to teach some tricks of the trade. Sixteen rookies showed up and jumped in on the action.

Although the kids were focusing on the fundamentals of football, Coach Tomlin says camp is more than that.

"I want them to play hard; I want them to play fair and I want them to play to win and there is nothing wrong with that either," he said. "Hopefully, they get that understanding that this could be a recipe for success in life, whatever it is that they do."

The two-day camp is free to the kids. Coach Tomlin says he wanted it that way. He remembers going to football camps as a kid and his parents struggling to pay.

"It was a financial strain on my parents," Tomlin added. "We had to make a commitment to do so, and I always said if I got in position to help young people that love football and provide a free camp that I would do that."

RELATED LINKS:
More Steelers News

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.