HOPE — True Park in Hope was awash in co-ed youth and coaches from July 14 to 16, some of them old and some new to Five Town Football, as nearly 40 current and soon to be Jammers started to get ready for the upcoming 2015 season.

This summer's camp was chock full of non-contact drills to whet the appetite of returning players and at the same time introduce the sport to newcomers in a fun, low-pressure atmosphere. Included in the activities was a spirited and rousing appearance by 10 current and future players of the Camden Hills Regional High School Jammers, lead by new head coach Thad Chilton.

“The high school players and I had a blast at the 2015 FTF Jammer Camp,” said Chilton. “The Windjammers' smiles were topped only by those on the faces of the campers. Each drill station was a place of high energy and fun as the campers grew in confidence and skill with every rep. Coach [Greg] Polk and his team of FTF coaches did a superb job with the camp.”

Organized by Five Town Football coach Greg Polk, he is this season's incoming seventh- and eighth-grade head coach of the team that participates in the Eastern Maine Middle School League. That squad was lead last year by coach Kenny Johndro, and finished with an upstart 6-2 record. Johndro will assume the reigns at the junior varsity level this season.

"The comments I heard from the kids attending the camp were very positive," said Polk. "They liked the drills we ran and they especially liked having the high school players join in and help. Overall I felt it was our best camp yet."

Players participating in fall tackle football with Five Town Football should come to Equipment Day, which will be held Sunday, Aug. 9 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Camden Snow Bowl. Opening practices for all squads begin in earnest starting Aug. 10.

The third- and fourth-grade junior varsity and fifth- and sixth-grade varsity teams will participate in the Coastal Youth Football League with teams from Rockland, Boothbay, Lincoln County and Medomak. The Coastal Youth Football League will be in its third year of existence. The Five Town Football JV Jammers went undefeated in 2013, earning the league's first JV championship to go along with the undefeated 2011 JV championship, when Five Town Football competed in the Maine Youth Football League, a squad Chilton helped mentor. Five Town Football President and coach Joe Russillo lead the 2013 squad and is back as head coach of the varsity Jammers this season.

Five Town Football celebrates its 10th anniversary this season with a limited time logo marking this achievement. FTF home games are at the Camden Snow Bowl on Saturdays, and a schedule will be released the week of July 26 with further previews of the upcoming season.

Related links:

• Five Town Football: More than meets the eye

• To see more than 200 photographs of this year’s Jammer Camp, visit Five Town Football on Facebook.

Five Town Football’s mission is to promote healthy, successful kids and support families in the communities of Hope, Appleton, Lincolnville, Camden and Rockport by providing a fun team sport experience that connects players to leadership, sportsmanship, teamwork and community. Trained coaching staffs are committed to serving as reliable role models and creating a positive atmosphere for players nurtured by quality interaction with their peers. FMI: fivetownfootball.com.