It might not be surprising to learn that Ravens linebacker Bart Scott was on a football field this week working on 40-yard dashes, shuttle drills, strength training and acceleration techniques. What is surprising is who was working out with him.
The five-year veteran held a football camp this week for kids that featured more than just tossing around the pigskin. Teaming with Velocity Sports Performance, which specializes in advanced training for athletes of all ages, Scott set out to give local youths an experience that went beyond the football field.
"I wanted to do a unique camp where we were able to provide them with different services," said Scott, who joined the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2002. "The football and mental aspects, which is my expertise, and the training and working out, which is [Velocity's] expertise."
The four-day camp, which concluded Thursday and cost $235 per person, was held at Gilman and was open to kids ages 8 to 18. It drew 108 participants, 30 of whom were on Police Athletic League scholarships paid for by Scott and Velocity.
"I didn't want economics to be the reason why kids couldn't come here," the Detroit native said. "I wanted to provide a scholarship program where they can come out and be able to play with the kids who were afforded the opportunity because they had the resources."
The youths were divided into three groups based on age. Each group wore a different color practice jersey. The field was separated into six stations, each with a different focus. Velocity coaches had the kids doing combine-style drills, while Scott focused on football.
At one station, participants were each placed in a harness and told to run while a fellow camper held on to the end of the device, providing resistance. For the older kids, it was a valuable lesson in gaining acceleration off the line. For the 8-year-olds, it was a chance to play tug-of-war as the runners dragged their partners, unable to resist them, down the field.
Over on the football side, Scott coached the kids on route running, man-to-man coverage and pass catching, stressing the importance of working as hard in practice as you would in a game.
During one session, Scott repeatedly corrected a youth who was playing too far off the line during coverage drills. "You're not playing safety now," Scott said. "This is man-to-man. Get up on him!"
Another time, Scott was quick to remind the older players to keep it professional. "No hot dogging," he said to a camper who was showing off after a catch. "Not at a Bart Scott camp."
Scott coupled those lessons with inspirational messages delivered throughout the camp. Each day featured a word, such as "believe" and "persistence" that served as the focus for that day. He began the daily sessions by speaking to the participants about what those words meant to him and ended each day by passing out certificates to high achievers and talking again about the similarities between football and life.
"This game is a hard game and it's tough, but so is life," Scott said, before addressing the campers Tuesday. "If you come here and you learn the discipline and the structure and the time-management skills, then you can apply that to life. You can apply that to any job."
Ravens offensive lineman Jason Brown joined Scott in teaching those lessons. He said his kind of camp was exactly what the youngsters needed because it served as a reminder that they have not been forgotten.
"A lot of these kids have hopes and dreams, but we have to get them to start believing in themselves," said Brown, who participated all four days and was joined Wednesday by current and former Ravens Atiyyah Ellison, Dennis Haley, Brad Jackson, Dawan Landry, Clarence Moore, Mike Smith, Musa Smith and Adalius Thomas. "For them to come out here and just be around him [Scott] and to feel his energy and excitement for life and for the game, it gives them so much."
Many of the campers echoed that sentiment. Brittany Stokes, one of three girls who attended the camp, was amazed by the amount of individual attention she received from NFL players.
"It means a lot to me because they are taking the time out of their schedules to work with the kids," said Stokes, 15, from Perry Hall. "I like being able to hang out with the pros."
Parents were also happy to see their children being tutored by professionals. Terri Dodson of Randallstown watched her twin boys, Kevin and Kai, smile as they moved from station to station, interacting with Scott and others.
"When I heard that Bart Scott was going to be here, I figured that would be a plus with the boys," said Dodson, who appreciated the emphasis on skills unrelated to football. "They are learning to give their all, not only with football, but different aspects of life."
Scott had experienced disorganized camps where the host made a guest appearance on day one and then disappeared, and he was determined to run his differently. He said he wanted to spend time with the youths because he could relate to what they were going through.
"I played for the Police Athletic League," Scott said. "I understand that these are kids that are trying to get themselves off the streets and do the right thing."
When asked what he wanted the campers to take away from their experience, Scott said he wanted them to see him as a regular person who used the life skills he talked about all week to succeed, and to put those skills to use in their own lives.
"I'm not Superman," Scott said. "I don't have any special powers. All I did was work hard, and they can do the same thing."
patrick.gutierrez@baltsun.com