Lake Forest College Lake Forest, Illinois
Entering our 37th summer in business, Contact Football Camps are known worldwide and have been called the finest instructional football camps and football schools for both High School Football and Youth Football in the United States by coaches, Pros and the media.
Directing the program this summer is Head Football Coach at Lake Forest College, Jim Catanzaro. Along with a demonstrated high level of enthusiasm, passion, and energy, Coach Catanzaro brings playing and coaching experience from a wide variety of institutions at both the scholarship and non-scholarship levels.
Highlights Include
- Individual Camp ages 8-18
- Grouping by age, weight and ability
- Contact Drills and Scrimmages
- Contact Football Camp T-shirt and Prizes
- Great exposure to college coaches
- Daily training to develop speed, strength and agility
Lake Forest College is a coeducational undergraduate institution located just 30 miles north of Chicago in the small city of Lake Forest, Illinois. One of the most beautiful suburbs on Chicago’s North Shore, Lake Forest provides a secure, supportive environment for the College. The beautiful 107-acre campus sits just a few blocks from Lake Michigan and is within walking distance of the train station and the shops, cafés, and restaurants of downtown Lake Forest.
Meet your coaching staff
Camp Director
Jim Catanzaro
Under “Coach Cat’s” direction, the Foresters have re-written the Foresters record books. In 2011 the Foresters broke 25 school records. Records fell in team categories in offensive and special teams categories, while individual performances appear on the top 5 all time lists in offense, defense, and special teams categories. The youthful Foresters provided exciting football, claiming their first victory against Beloit College since 2007, and increasing their win-streaks against Knox (2) and Lawrence University (5). In addition, the Foresters also saw themselves within a single score of the lead in the fourth quarter in all but two of their conference losses. At the time of his appointment, Catanzaro entered the MWC as the youngest head coach in the conference. Prior to being named head coach, Catanzaro served as the defensive coordinator for the Foresters. During his tenure, Lake Forest defenses were consistently ranked at or near the top of the conference each season.
Prior to arriving in the Forest, Catanzaro served as an assistant at Wingate University (NCAA D2). During his time in North Carolina, the Bulldogs achieved unprecedented success as they recorded an 8-3 record in 2004, the largest win total in school history at that point. In addition, Catanzaro coached two All-Americans (John Bowman and Kenwin Cummings) who were first year starters for the Bulldogs. Both individuals would sign professional contracts, as Bowman would be an ALL-CFL selection for the Montreal Allouettes, Cummings would play professionally for the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. Catanzaro was a member of the 2004 South Atlantic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year.
Before his three year stint at Wingate, Catanzaro would enter the coaching profession at GlenvilleState College (NCAA D2). Catanzaro served in numerous capacities for the Pioneers, including coaching the Defensive Line, and serving as the strength and conditioning, special teams, and recruiting coordinator during different seasons.The 2001 Pioneers won the first conference championship since 1997, and the WVIAC would recognize the Pioneer coaches as their 2001 Coaching Staff of the Year.
Catanzaro was a four-sport letterman at Greenville College (NCAA D3) from 1996-2000, earning varsity letters in Football, Basketball, Tennis, and Soccer. A two-time all conference selection in football for the Panthers, Catanzaro started every game of his career, and recorded 10+ starts on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. In 1999, the Panthers won their first conference championship in school history. While at Greenville, Catanzaro earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and appeared on the Dean’s List on multiple occasions. After graduating from Greenville, Catanzaro would earn a Masters Degree in Communication Studies from West Virginia University (Morgantown).
Read Full BioIn addition to his collegiate football coaching responsibilities, Catanzaro is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and is a nationally certified strength and conditioning coach. Since 2008 Catanzaro has served the American Football Coaches Association as a member of the Randy Walker Power Of Influence Outing Committee. In 2010, Catanzaro served the NCAA as a playoff site host representative (Wheaton vs. Coe). Catanzaro was also selected to coach in the 2010 and 2011 All-American Bowl’s in Minneapolis, MN.
A sought after clinic speaker, Catanzaro has presented at the annual Nike Coach of the Year Clinic in St. Louis for three straight years. In 2009 and 2010, Catanzaro presented at the Chicago Public Schools Coaches Clinic. Catanzaro spoke at the annual Glazier Clinics in Chicago, and has hosted a coaches development weekend since 2009 at Lake Forest College during the summer, playing host to over 30 coaches from 20 different institutions.
Contact Football Camps feature full contact drills and scrimmages with a staff of major college coaches and players. At camps "contact" is introduced in a slow, gradual progression before any actual "contact" is initiated. Campers are divided according to age, weight and ability.
The instruction (3 times a day) stresses both individual positions and team play with every camper. Thousands of our previous football campers played, or are now playing college football (many at schools represented by our coaching staff).
Rental Equipment
Campers need a full set of football equipment - helmet, shoulder pads, two jerseys (one light/one dark), pants and pads, football shoes (NO metal-tip cleats), athletic supporter, cup and mouthpiece. For campers without equipment, Contact Football Camp has equipment for rent prior to camp at $80 per set (helmet, shoulder pads, pants and pads) and $90 per set if rented on the first day of camp. Individual pieces of equipment are available at $40 per item.
HALF DAY MORNING SPECIALTY CLINIC - 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (first morning) - $135
Quarterbacks – Personalized attention and instruction by our quarterback coaches. The focus of the instruction includes the following: leadership, passing techniques, drop-backs, quickness, footwork, speed and agility, ball handling, hand-offs, pitches and options, passing techniques, sprint-outs, bootlegs, rollouts and play-action, passing drills, grip, QB/center exchange, pivots, sprint-draw and play-action pass, progression for finding the open receiver, mental and physical preparation for playing QB, warm-up drills, reading coverages, secondary pressure, and audibles.
Wide Receivers - Personalized attention and instruction by our receiver coaches. The focus of the instruction includes the following: reading coverages, correct pass routes, working back to the ball, catching the ball at the highest point, catching the ball, following the ball to the hands, speed control, how to get open, spotting defensive coverages (man-to-man, zone and combinations), running drills, receiver drills, stance, release, patterns: out, post, hook, curl, post/corner, fade, in, fly, cross, etc.
HALF DAY MORNING SPECIALTY CLINIC - 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (first morning) - $135, must sign up separately for this program!!!
Sample Daily Schedule
- Day 1
- 8:30 a.m. Clinic Campers Check In
- 11:00 a.m. All Skills Camp Check In/Rules/Orientation
- 2:00 p.m. Regular Camp Schedule
- Days 2-4
- 7:15 a.m. Wake Up/Stretch/Run
- 7:45 a.m. Breakfast
- 9:00 a.m. Practice #1, Offensive Emphasis
- 11:30 a.m. Lunch/Free Time
- 2:00 p.m. Practice #2, Defensive Emphasis
- 4:00 p.m. Day Campers Depart
- 4:30 p.m. Free Time/Dinner
- 6:45 p.m. Practice #3, Competition
- 815 p.m. Evening Activities, Meetings, Speakers
- 9:00 p.m. Extended Day Campers Depart
- 10:00 p.m. Lights Out
- Day 5
- 7:15 a.m. Stretch/Run
- 7:45 a.m. Breakfast, Warm Up, Drill Recap
- 9:00 a.m. Games
- 12:00 p.m. Camp Check Out
Week Long Camp Check In: - 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. for the All Skills Camp. Opening Ceremony will be on the field at 1:30 and the first practice (full gear) will
begin immediately following around 2:00 p.m. Parents are invited to watch.
Morning Clinic Check In: 8:30 a.m. on first day of camp. Clinic will end at 12:00 p.m.
Graduation: Campers scrimmage in the morning on the last day of camp, beginning with the youngest campers. Youngest campers will be ready to check out by 11:00 a.m. and all campers should be finished and checked out by 2 p.m.. Parents are encouraged to attend the final scrimmages!
Read camper reviewsGreat coach to player ratios
The coach to player ratio exceeded my expectations. It allowed more reps as well as individual attention to improve my technique at my position. The coaching staff was very knowledgeable and professional. It was rare to have so many Head Coaches of football programs participate in a football camp
Outstanding football camp, Superb Coaches
Football camp was outstanding! Coaches were superb. A sports camp, especially football, could NOT have been better!!
The campers included all ages
My son was the youngest camper at the Contact Football Camp at Lake Forest. Initially I was nervous about him participating, but the camp counselors made sure he was in a group with kids around his same size. He was easily immersed into the games/drills by all. The kids were great and he had a wonderful time. We will be sending him again next year.
I learned so much
I had a great time! I played the offensive and defensive positions that I wanted. Thank you! The coaches seemed tough at first, but in the end I learned so much. I really appreciate the time the coaches spent with me! I met new friends who will be coming back next year and so will I.
Parent
Coaches and Counselors were fantastic role models!
We were so impressed with the professionalism, dedication and organization of the camp. The coaches and counselors were fantastic role models for our son. We were more than impressed! Thanks!