With  summer vacation officially upon us it's time for local football players to get back to work and prepare themselves for the fall season. For most players, preparation consists of individual cardio and weight training sessions until the time comes to join their teams for group conditioning. But for a select few players, their moment of preparation will come much sooner and in a different type of team setting thanks to former Hilmar High and University of Oregon quarterback Nate Costa.

For the second year in a row, Costa will be hosting a pair of three-day football camps for both youth and high school players in Hilmar from June 24-26.

“This year is all about making it a little bigger and a little better, refining the process to give it a little more quality,” Costa said.

Costa has already filled all 30 spots for his high school quarterback camp, with players from Hilmar, Turlock and Pitman High eager to learn from the former collegiate play caller.

“We've got kids coming from as far north as Roseville, as far south as Sanger and Dos Palos and then everywhere in between,” Costa said.

In addition to learning to make reads, moving through their progressions and refining their techniques, the quarterbacks at Costa's camp will also be watching film to learn how to diagnose defenses and breakdown coverages, something that is routine in the collegiate level.

“So much of what we do in college football is learn about the game in a classroom setting. Watching film and breaking down techniques verbally,” Costa said. “This will be something new for some of the kids.”

Costa will also be preaching fundamentals to his youth camp, though he will be focusing on more than just the quarterback position. The non-contact camp geared towards 3rd to 8th graders will stress the importance of basic techniques for all positions and no previous experience is required.

“I'm just introducing them to the basic principles of the game from all different positions,” Costa said.

The two camps will held on the same days with the youth camp running from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the high school QB camp running from 5 p.m. to 7p.m.

There are still plenty of openings left for the youth camp with a June 19 deadline to sign up, but players who sign up before the end of today will receive a free Nike camp shirt. For more information on both camps visit NateCostaFootball.com.