Kids Learn Sportsmanship, Discipline At Annual Roethlisberger ProCamp
BETHEL PARK (KDKA) -- A decade ago, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger held his first mini-camp for kids. Saturday, another group took lessons from the pro.
It wasn't your typical practice. Saturday, kids got to learn a few tricks from a pro.
"We do a lot of quarterback drills, some receiver drills, and a little bit of running back stuff, but mostly just catching and throwing," Roethlisberger said.
Dozens of first through eighth graders ran drills on the field.
"It's really fun 'cause we get to meet Ben Roethlisberger and do stuff at his camp," participant Frankie O'Mara said.
Roethlisberger says a more important lesson to teach, though, is sportsmanship.
"Just a second ago, I was throwing passes and a kid dropped it and one of his teammates said, 'It's OK, you'll get the next one,'" he said. "So to hear that kind of stuff already is just great."
"If you're not a good teammate, people won't be a good teammate back to you," one child said.
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Lisa Lupkovich brought her four kids and her nephew to the pro-camp at Bethel Park, driving several hours from New York to get them there.
"They are just so, so excited," she said. "They couldn't wait to get out of school yesterday and just get here. Ben's just such a good guy and such a good role model for children, and I think it'll be a great experience for them."
In its tenth year, the coaches are all volunteers. Some have been here since the camp began.
"The most important thing is teaching kids discipline," one volunteer said. "They learn how to do things in order."
"We all know football coaches don't have a lot of patience," said. "But for them to come out here and do this, it's just awesome because you can see that they genuinely care and want to be here."
Roethlisberger's camp wraps up Sunday afternoon.
