Glades Day builds its team's bonds with an overnight camp

By Stacy Hicklin | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

August 21, 2008

BELLE GLADE - Pillow fights and smashmouth football. Sleepovers and state-title runs.

The ideas seem to be polar opposites. Yet the concepts have come together in hopes that a football team will, too.

For the third consecutive season, the players and coaches at Glades Day packed their overnight bags and reported to school. Some teams say they eat, sleep and drink football. The Gators literally did.

Upon returning to the program three seasons ago, coach Pete Walker instituted Camp Walker to the Class 1A private school.

The past two seasons the team spent three days and two nights at school. This year, camp began last Thursday and was shortened to two days and one night.

"[Camp's] a tradition now," Walker said. "I want the [players] to have a positive experience that creates lasting memories. The more you put into the team the harder it is to let it go when times get tough."

After the final practice of the day ended at 8:30 p.m., the players showered and wandered into the gym for free time. Sleeping bags and air mattresses dotted the floor. Before long, camp veterans were laughing as they reminisced about past camps.

Their favorite stories involved the pillow feuds that seem to break out after lights out. Last year's struggle turned the east side of the gym against the west side. "It makes a whole lot of sense to create team unity so you can bond and play better together," Glades Day senior Jarrett Swaby said. "It's a fun family-like experience that everybody looks forward to."

An impromptu guitar concert from senior Sammy Edwards broke out as his teammates shouted out song requests, clapped and sang along.

Soon, players scattered to play four-square, some relaxed, others played basketball and a few sat listening to music. After a 10:30 taco snack, the team settled in for bed at 11 p.m.

"It's bedtime — don't make me come back in here," Walker said to the group.

They responded with "Coach, will you tuck me in?" Laughter followed with nearly 20 voices saying "goodnight coach."

Less than 10 minutes passed before the first pillow skirmish took place. This was no ordinary pillow fight, but the football player version with sneak attacks and lots of running. Coaches continued to hear the noise. Just 50 minutes past "bedtime," camp 2008 found its claim to fame: midnight conditioning of sprints and push-ups."It made me feel welcome, like I'd been part of the team for years," said De-Andres Jackson, a transfer from Suncoast.

Stacy Hicklin can be reached at shicklin@SunSentinel.com