The 13th annual Liberty Football Kids Camp ran July 16-19.

“The first year we had 13 kids, we had more coaches than kids,” Liberty football coach Steve Valach said. “Then we just kept doing it with the idea of lets keep getting kids in Liberty football t-shirts.”

About 80 kids registered for the camp this year. Valach said he’s happy with that total considering the construction at Liberty makes it difficult to access and park at the school.

The camp is for kids from 7-14, though Valach said he did bend the rules slightly so his five-year-old son, Elijah, could participate. Valach said the focus is on having fun for younger kids, and improving skills for older kids. It also gives the older players a chance to be introduced to the coaching philosophies that they might see at Liberty in a couple of years.

“It’s good to be out in the community and make those connections,” Valach said.

Valach said he also has Liberty alumni come to the camp whenever possible. Defensive end Mkristo Bruce talked to the kids one day. Bruce was an All-Pac-10 selection at Washington State University, and went on to play in the NFL.