The Mid-Southern Youth Football League, which is sponsored by local businesses and industries are conducting an elementary school football camp to be held at the baseball complex near the airport from 12 to 4 p.m. during the week of June 2 through 6.

The camp is open to any elementary school student who has not celebrated his 12th birthday by June 2.

The camp is intended to teach the participants teamwork, sportsmanship, football skills and good citizenship. The intent is to have the participants refrain from dirty play, thereby reducing the likelihood on injury and better prepare them for varsity football when they reach high school.

As a culmination of the camp, the participants will participate in a punt, pass and kick competition on June 6.

Any funds raised by this camp are funneled directly back into the program. This year the intended recipient is the South Decatur Youth Football program. That program had its storage facility invaded by rats this past winner and all of its equipment was destroyed by the rodents. The property insurance that was written did not cover animal infestation, so the damage was not reimbursed.

All jerseys, pants and soft pads had to be burned with the soft parts of the shoulder pads. Whether any part of the shoulder pads can be salvaged is unclear because of the soaking of the equipment by rat feces and urine.

The same situation exists with the helmets but the shell itself may be usable. All told the economic loss sustained by the South Decatur program approaches $17,500.

The cost of a set of shoulder pads is approximately $50 and a helmet runs $112. Refurbishing, which is routinely done every year anyway because of legal issues, is about $50. The total cost to outfit one participant in any of the three leagues is about $200.

The League is especially interested in assisting South Decatur since that program provides competition for the programs from Milan, Rushville, Greensburg and North Decatur.

The league has three divisions called A, B and C and participants are placed in a division based on a combination of height, weight and age.

The C division is for the youngest and smallest players. Players who are five and six years old are placed in that group. Any seven-year old who weighs less than 78 pounds may also play in that division.

Division B is for players who are seven through 10 years of age except that any 10-year old who weighs more than 100 pounds will play in Division A, which encompasses ages 11 and 12 year olds.

For competitive and safety reasons, their are some restriction in play that require some youngsters to have limited participation.

In Division A, any player who weighs more than 115 pounds is required to wear a stripe on his helmet. A red stripe is worn by players who weigh more than 115 pounds but less than 150 pounds. A black stripe is worn by participants who weigh more than 150 pounds.

Red stripers can only play on defense but cannot run the ball. Black stripers cannot play defense and must play on the offensive line or on offensive special teams. They do not participate in kick-off coverage.