Darin LaRosa was looking for a football camp for his son to attend during the off season before August. After searching for a local camp and coming up empty, he was coaxed by some of his players’ parents into starting his own.

LaRosa is qualified to oversee a football camp — he’s a youth football coach in Voorhees and has relationships with other football coaches in the area. He tapped those coaches to donate their time to the camp, and after about six weeks of planning, the inaugural Gridiron Youth Football Camp was created.
It was so well received, it looked as if it was going to turn a profit — something LaRosa hadn’t intended.

“I started putting the numbers together for the camp and realized that we were going to bring some money in, but what do we do with it?” LaRosa said. “It’s not meant to be a profitable thing; it’s really only to show technique to young kids playing football.”

LaRosa reached out to the father of one of the boys he coaches. Joe Ciampoli has two sons with autism, and LaRosa decided to donate the inadvertent proceeds of the camp to Ciampoli’s foundation, The GoodLooking Foundation.

“Good looking” is what Ciampoli’s son’s therapist said to him after he made eye contact with her, Ciampoli said, adding that making eye contact is difficult for someone with autism. The foundation sponsors outings every Saturday for families with an autistic child.

“We have play groups for kids where they can do music and art and gym-type activities,” Ciampoli said, “And the parents — they talk about anything other than autism. Sometimes we bring in professional chefs or golf experts. It provides a needed respite for the parents.”

The Gridiron Youth Football Camp, a no-contact sports camp, will be held April 25 for children between the ages of 6 and 9, and April 26 for children 10 to 14, at the International Sports, Skating and Fun Centre, 600 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill. Both sessions run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The day starts with a 20-minute classroom event that teaches the history of football. A dietician will be on hand to discuss healthy snacks for the boys, and special attention will be paid to technique. Representatives from Velocity Sports Performance will be on hand to teach proper running technique.

“The boys are not only going to learn how to properly hit a bag and go out for a pass, but they’re going to learn proper running and agility techniques,” LaRosa said. “It just seems that boys don’t get out there and run much anymore. By the time they get out on the field, they’re a little clumsy,” adding that many are on the computer more than the track.

About 20 minutes will be spent on each drill, and LaRosa said boys who want to try a different position will get the opportunity, adding that boys are sometimes pigeon-holed into one position because of their size or build.

“If a boy plays tight end, he’ll get the opportunity to run some wide receiver drills, and even quarterback,” LaRosa said. “Boys don’t get an opportunity to do that on the field. When they come, it’s almost like they’re dictated a position.”

About 25 boys have signed up for the camp thus far. Marketing has been through word of mouth and a lot of lawn signs and e-mails. LaRosa has a goal of 300. Cost is $35 and all proceeds benefit the GoodLooking Foundation.

“It’s been an overwhelming response,” LaRosa said. “It’s a amazing how people come together to help out for a good cause and I’ve heard nothing from the coaches other than ‘Count me in.’”  

For more information and a registration form, visit www.gridiron4charity.com. For more information on the GoodLooking Foundation, visit goodlookingfoundation.org.