Calgary Stampeder long snapper Aaron Crawford is seen working on offensive line drills with Monsignor McCoy Colts players during a two-day camp at the Methanex Bowl. Aaron Crawford and Calgary Stampeder kicker Rene Parades travelled to Medicine Hat to host a special teams workshop.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
McCoy Colts football players had the opportunity to work with two pro special-teams players from the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, who travelled to the Hat to host a two-day clinic.
Long snapper Aaron Crawford, a former Crescent Heights Viking, and kicker Rene Parades worked with Colts players on fundamental and technical skills, focusing on special teams Thursday and Friday at the Methanex Bowl.
The pair focused on teaching players technical skills they can use to build a strong foundation upon. Crawford and Parades also spoke with players on how they were able to find and make a career in football with a strong skill set and a passion for learning.
“I try to put myself back when I was in their shoes and where I was thinking,” explains Crawford. “Try and give them a little bit more of the bigger picture advice.
“You’re taught a lot about the technique and the skill, that kind of stuff, but not necessarily the bigger picture as to why. Maybe we can help bridge the gap by explaining things and putting it on a grand scale.”
Crawford, who played high school football with Colts head coach Jole Krassman, says players at the high school level learn skills in different ways and provided the offensive line an in-depth clinic focused on snapping and blocking for the kicker.
“If you broaden the ways you introduce them to information, maybe it’ll click,” explains Crawford. “Maybe a guy who didn’t click with the way he was being taught, doesn’t necessarily lack the skill or the ability, he just wasn’t digesting what you’re trying to get them to digest.”
The two Stamps were able to make the trip to the Hat to teach at the two-day football clinic due to a bi-week in their CFL schedule.
Parades told the News he enjoys coaching the next generation of football players and has plans to launch the Parades Kicking Academy that will provide mentorship and coaching for youth athletes.
“I love coaching younger kids,” says Parades. “Most of my career, including my high school days, I didn’t have much coaching, so I like to give back to the kids and help.”
Calgary’s longtime kicker was able to work one on one with players going over his technique with specific exercises.
“Kicking is very technical so I’m trying to teach these kids the technique part of it early in their careers. Once they have the basics down they can have a longer career in kicking.”
As the CFL continues to evolve, special teams can often lead to long and exciting scoring plays on the gridiron and continue to be more dominant in Canadian football.
“It’s a big part of the game, it’s a reason why the CFL game is so good,” says Parades. “You get kick-off returns, missed field goals and the return as well.
“If I could help kickers grow up and hopefully become better than I am, that’ll be good.”
Coach Krassman says the pro-level clinic was a unique opportunity for the Colts who came together on short notice, and allowed players to gain more skills on special team plays, blocking stance, splits and snap counts.
“It’s understanding that if you do the little things right, the bigger things will take care of themselves,” says Krassman. “And these guys are just great at reiterating the fundamentals but bringing that high level approach to get these players prepared for the next level if they want to pursue it.”
Krassman says the clinic provided his players a spark for the upcoming season.
“We’re buzzing around, we’ve got energy right now,” says Krassman. “We’ve got guys that just love playing football and we’re getting better every day and we’re working hard. We’re going to just continue to strive to get better.”
