(The Canadian Press)

By Sheldon Spackman

Down, Set, Hut!

Former Stampeder and Grey Cup Champion bringing 7 on 7 football camp to Red Deer

Jul 25, 2019 | 1:53 PM

A former star with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders is bringing a unique summer football camp to Red Deer this weekend.

Keon Raymond’s Big Time Player Elite 7 on 7 summer football camp will take place July 28 at Setter’s Place in Great Chief Park and offer youth from 12-18 a chance to further develop their skills while building character, self-confidence, sportsmanship and leadership.

Raymond, the founder and president of Calgary-based K25 Sports – a youth sports development program encouraging kids to live healthy, active lifestyles, says it’s also about having fun and the relationships you develop inside the sports when you play.

“We’re coming up to Red Deer to introduce this new game of 7 on 7 football and we’re excited about it,” says Raymond. “We’ve hit a lot of the small communities in southern Alberta, now we’re excited to come up to central Alberta.”

Raymond says 7 on 7 football is focused on skill development.

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“It focusses on receivers on how to run proper routes, it focusses on quarterbacks and opportunities to throw the ball 40 or 50 times to learn repetition,” he explains. “We provide a safe environment but it’s fun and it’s fast-paced and it’s really just kids outside playing pitch and catch.”

Offering spring basketball and summer flag football in addition to 7 on 7 camps, Raymond says K25 Sports is now in its second year of operation and bringing its programs outside of Calgary for the first time ever.

“A lot of events and things are always just kind of held in Calgary and we wanted to make sure that we go out and not leave the smaller communities out in the dark,” exclaims Raymond. “I coach the Calgary Wolfpack and we had a game against the Buccaneers a couple weeks ago and Red Deer is just a beautiful town and it’s just so welcoming and inviting.”

Raymond says it’s important to note the 7 on 7 football camp is not just for football players but for all kids looking to learn new skills and simply have fun.

“Kids can come out to learn the game, play and get the chance with some CFL players who come out and teach them how to play,” he explains. “We usually break them up into teams and we run games to try and teach them the object of the game and how it goes and just create a great atmosphere. We want to make sure that they have proper skills and an understanding, a foundation where they can apply those to the game when we play.”

Raymond says he will be joined by two-time Grey Cup Champion and former Stampeder and Eskimo Sederrick Cunningham during the camp in Red Deer.

“He was nominated for Rookie of the Year for Calgary, won a Grey Cup with me in 2014 and then one up the road with the Eskimos,” says Raymond. “He’ll be able to pass on his expertise and knowledge to these young kids in Alberta. It’s been a game that has provided so much for me and my family and I just want to do my part in being able to help and promote the game and get kids out and wanting to play.”

To register, visit www.K25Sports.com.