The Daily Dispatch

Through a grant from the National Football League, former Buffalo Bills and North Dakota State University defensive lineman Phil Hansen will bring his message of physical fitness and sportsmanship to Wahpeton for the second straight year on Monday, August 17.

The free camp is open to boys and girls and will be conducted in two sessions.

Kids aged 5-9 will start at 4 p.m., and the session for 10 to 13-year-olds will start at 6 p.m.

Both sessions will be at the North Dakota State College of Science football complex.

"It was actually my wife's idea to start these camps. And I want to stress that these camps are open to boys and girls," Hansen said. "The girls can do the same drills that the boys can."

During the camp, kids will learn the fundamentals of throwing, kicking, tackling and more at 11 different stations.

NDSCS assistant football coach Mike Shafer will conduct some of the station workouts.

Wahpeton Parks and Recreation Director Wayne Beyer said kids do not need to pre-register for the event but that only the first 150 kids at each session will be guaranteed a free t-shirt, water bottle and other items.

"They just need to show up that night," Beyer said. "We had close to 300 kids last year. And Phil does such a great job in delivering his message."

At the conclusion of each session, the 11-year NFL veteran, Hansen, will talk about sportsmanship and physical fitness to the kids.

"But I'm finding out now that the message is geared toward the parents," Hansen said. "Because kids learn poor sportsmanship. They aren't born with it. And with the obesity issue, we need to get our kids eating healthy and being physically active."

A native of Oakes, Hansen played in three Super Bowl games with the Bills during his professional football career.

Hansen also runs camps in Fargo and Detroit Lakes, Minn.

For more information of the Phil Hansen football camp in Wahpeton, call 701-642-2811.

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