When players take the field to start football practice this August, something critically important will be underneath every helmet, big smiles. The smiles represent a common philosophy — to have fun with a sport they have come to love. Fun is a priority that runs through the coaches and players of every Five Town Football team.

The week of July 14 was summer football camp, at True Park in Hope, and fun is on full display. Locally known as “Jammer Camp,” 40 players ranging from ages 6 to 13 were running from coaching station to coaching station whooping and hollering, and beaming their pearly whites in the late afternoon sun. Middle school head coach Greg Polk had an agenda with a healthy balance of skill building, games and obstacle courses designed to challenge, yet promote each athlete’s fitness.

"It's just really fun. You're all one team, there's no one player, there's just 11 players and I like to be part of a team," said Dylan Morgenstern, aka “Diesel,” when talking about why he loves being a part of Five Town Football.

Diesel, who began playing the sport when he was 9, got his nickname from one of his coaches.

"I was kind of intimidated. I had never played football and I wasn't sure what I was doing. But, the coaches helped me. They told me the plays and what everyone else was doing, helped me understand the game. I learned not to be intimidated," said Morgenstern.

Today Diesel is the only name he'll answer to on and off the field when around his football brethren.

Diesel was happily running station to station at Jammer Camp that week and was looking forward to the start of the fall season. Coach Joe Russillo, Five Town Football's varsity head coach for the 2015 season, said he is looking forward to having Diesel around, and continuing the fun and growing his confidence.

"I try to keep things as simple and fun as possible, and repeat things until they can do them in their sleep. The more reps they have, the more confident they are on the field, and the faster they move and more successful they are. The great thing about the confidence that they build with us on the field is that it carries over into other aspects of their lives – school, friends, other sports," said Russillo.

Related link:

• To see more than 200 photographs of this year’s Jammer Camp, visit Five Town Football on Facebook.

Five Town Football’s mission is to promote healthy, successful kids and support families in the communities of Hope, Appleton, Lincolnville, Camden and Rockport by providing a fun team sport experience that connects players to leadership, sportsmanship, teamwork and community. Trained coaching staffs are committed to serving as reliable role models and creating a positive atmosphere for players nurtured by quality interaction with their peers. FMI: fivetownfootball.com.