By Dave Cloud | For The Times-Post

More than 250 football players, ranging from flag football to eighth grade, were put through their paces at the Falls Park football fields Monday through Wednesday last week.

The camp, as envisioned by Pendleton Heights head football coach Jed Richman, was designed to bring continuity in terminology and technique to all levels of football in the South Madison district.

The goal is to have each level of the program expand upon the base from the previous level.

More than 40 Pendleton Heights football players along with the high school and middle school football staffs, and the coaches of the Pendleton Junior Football League supervised individual drill stations and ran team drills for the different teams.

The camp was designed to be fun with a purpose: Playing the game safely. Proper tackling technique was taught along with proper stretching, warm up and training techniques.

All players and coaches received a camp T-shirt as a reminder of the event.

As the seasons for all levels of football approach, the energy in the program is on the rise.

PJFL has record numbers this year. The seventh-grade team has grown from 15 returning PJFL players to more than 30 camp attendees.

The eighth-grade team was the undefeated HHC champion last year and looks to continue to grow in its last year of middle school football.

The high school program looks to continue its growth from the past three seasons as it integrates multiple starters to replace several all-state players who will be playing at the college level this fall.

The Arabians will play host to a scrimmage against the Indiana High School Athletic Association sectional foe Muncie Central Bearcats on Aug. 16 before opening the 2019 season at home against the Indians of Mississinewa High School.

Cloud is head coach of the Pendleton Heights High School wrestling team.