Pirate to kick off new camp

MANATEE COUNTY — Growing up, Braden River High sophomore Kadin Kerns used to carry a football around with him wherever he went.

But it wasn’t until one night after soccer practice that a then-8-year-old Kerns attempted his first extra point. Unfortunately, his first attempt wasn’t successful. Nor was his second. It wasn’t until some 15 tries later that one of his kicks finally sailed through the uprights.

“I really liked soccer, and we just went out one day to throw,” Kerns said. “We always kept a football in the back of the car, and I just decided to kick it. I kept kicking it, and finally I made an extra point.”

From that point on, Kerns never stopped kicking. He tried out for the East Manatee Bulldogs the following year and played Pop Warner up until he joined the Pirates football team as a freshman.

Kerns scored nearly 400 points while kicking for the Bulldogs, but for much of the time, Kerns didn’t have anyone to really coach him.

“When I was kicking for the Bulldogs, I never really had anybody to teach me,” Kerns said. “I just did my own thing. I didn’t really know what to do.”

Now, as he prepares for his junior season, Kerns has decided to reach out to the county’s up-and-coming kickers who find themselves in a similar position. Kerns, along with his dad, Greg, who serves as the Pirates special teams coach, will host a youth kicking and long snapping football camp for children ages 8-12. The camp will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 20 at Bradenton Preparatory Academy, 7900 40th Ave. W.

“My son’s older now, so it’s nice to help out the younger ones,” Greg Kerns said.

Kadin Kerns has created his own routine for the camp based on drills and fundamentals he learned over the years, particularly from the Ray Guy kicking camp and former Southeast High special teams coach Don Taylor, who also will be on hand for the camp along with several other former high school and collegiate kickers.

The cost of the camp is $25, with all proceeds going directly back to Bradenton Prep for the use of the field. Checks should be made payable to Bradenton Prep Academy Boosters. All participants should bring a football clearly labeled with their name and kicking shoes. Water will be provided and parents must sign a waiver at the field prior to participation.

For more information or to register contact Greg or Kadin Kerns at 747-3196 or [email protected].

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].

Youth Kicking and Long Snapping Camp
WHEN: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 20
WHERE: Bradenton Preparatory Academy, 7900 40th Ave. West
COST: $25, checks should be made payable to Bradenton Prep Academy Boosters
CONTACT: Greg or Kadin Kerns, 747-3196 or [email protected]