SAN YSIDRO – Students from the San Ysidro School District recently had the opportunity to sharpen their football skills and learn from the pros at a youth football camp hosted by 10-year NFL veteran Reggie Bush.

The Reggie Bush Youth Football ProCamp, which took place July 14 and 15 at Bush’s alma mater Helix Charter High School in La Mesa, was advertised to any San Ysidro student interested in attending. The District is determined to grow its after-school athletics programs and inspire students by providing diverse educational opportunities and working closely with the community.

“This is so cool that we get to play football with Reggie Bush,” Ocean View Hills fourth-grader Samuel Garcia said as he took a break on the field. “I’m having so much fun and I already learned some new tips.”

The camp was free of cost for students and was made possible by the District’s partnership with ProCamps Worldwide and The T. Denny Sanford Inspirement Tribe, which provides innovative, student-centered youth programs to Title I schools.

“We are grateful that Reggie Bush and ProCamps hosted our students so they could learn from a world-class player,” SYSD Superintendent Dr. Julio Fonseca said. “These opportunities show our students what they can expect to experience in the future as well.”

SYSD students joined children from area schools as Camp Director Rod Huber, head football coach at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Bush gave the kids a pep talk followed by a quick group warm-up session from Huber, who guided them through neck-rolls, jumping jacks and shoulder rolls.

The kids were then divided into smaller groups and received tips on football fundamentals such as catching, blocking and passing. Students received autographs, a team photo with Bush and an official Camp T-shirt.

On day two, current and former NFL players joined Bush to provide their tips and help train the kids, including recently retired Detroit Lions’ receiver Calvin Johnson, who holds 15 NFL records.

“We hope students who attended Reggie Bush’s football camp came home excited to play sports during the school year,” said Alexis Rodriguez, coordinator of San Ysidro’s After School Education and Safety Program. “We are committed to helping our students enjoy happy and healthy lives.”

Board of Education President Marcos Diaz said he appreciates all work Inspirement Tribe is doing to develop more afterschool programs for San Ysidro students.

“The opportunity to meet and learn from a professional athlete like Reggie Bush doesn’t come along every day and I’m thrilled to see that the District’s staff is working hard to make these events available to our students by partnering with great organizations,” Diaz said. “Ultimately, we want our students to feel empowered to achieve their goals, no matter what those goals are. We must provide them the resources to help them get there.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

SYSDFOOTBALLCAMP1: San Ysidro students practiced how to catch a football after a snap during the Reggie Bush Youth Football ProCamp at Helix Charter High School in La Mesa.

SYSDFOOTBALLCAMP2: San Ysidro student tried to elude a defender during drills at the Reggie Bush Youth Football ProCamp at Helix Charter High School with his coach standing near giving tips.

SYSDFOOTBALLCAMP3: Prior to the start of camp, campers gathered to hear words of encouragement from coaches at the Reggie Bush Youth Football ProCamp at Helix Charter High School.

SYSDFOOTBALLCAMP4: Ocean View Hills Elementary fourth-grader Samuel Garcia took a break on the field after practicing throwing passes and running other drills.