At times it was hard to tell who was having more fun at the Sugarland Optimist Club’s free football clinic Wednesday at New Iberia Senior High -- the big kids or the little ones.

Football players from NISH were instructors at the camp for the first time. The 100 or so clinic participants ranged from age 7-18.

NISH head football coach Rick Hutson told of one drill where young defensive linemen were doing a tackling drill.

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“Jalon Hill, who weighs about 400 pounds, was holding the shield,” said Hutson. “He let all of them knock him over. It seemed like they couldn’t wait to sign up and knock the older guys over.”

All the players who helped run the camp volunteered, said Hutson. Some told him they remembered attending the camp themselves as kids.

“We knew the ones who were more proactive leaders were going to be the first ones to sign up for it,” said the coach. “But we had a couple of them who surprised us, first that they signed up and second that they were enjoying themselves so much.”

Jacques Bourque, who will be a senior at NISH this year, said he remembers that when he was young he looked up to his brother, a high school athlete.

“This is just something to give back to the community,” said Bourque. “I know they look up to us.”

Hutson echoed that, saying his coaching staff tries to teach the Yellow Jackets that they are role models.

“One of the things we try to teach our players is somebody looks up to you,” he said. “You’re not professional or college players, you’re just high school players, but there’s somebody out there who looks up to you.”

The way players behave on and off the field, and their interactions with younger siblings and kids in the community makes a big impact, he said.

“I think a lot of them enjoyed getting to switch roles,” said Hutson. “Instead of having someone coaching them, they get to coach someone else.”

Bourque said the best part of the camp was teaching. “Teaching them things they don’t know,” he said.

Fellow senior Scottie Williams enjoyed watching the youngsters playing touch football. It’s an experience he recommends to his teammates for next year.

“We had a bunch of people that showed up, a lot of little kids and some of the freshmen who will be here,” said Williams.

The young players also enjoyed the experience, which included a post-camp barbecue by members of the Sugarland Optimist Club.

“It was fun,” said Michael Colbert, 10. Colbert will be a fifth grader at St. Charles Street Elementary in Jeanerette in the fall. “It helped us learn about football, and it helped us to be a good sport.”

Grant Mitchell, 10, said playing against other people was the best part of the camp.

“It helped us learn how to depend on other people,” said Mitchell, who will be a fifth grader at Pesson Elementary. “It’s not all about me, it’s about team.”

Hutson said instruction was pretty basic, given the camp’s one-day format and the youth of some of the players. Things like how to get into a proper football stance, good tackling technique and basic drills were part of the instruction.

“The main thing I wanted them all to do was when (the youngsters) leave here today, they enjoy playing football and want to keep playing football,” said Hutson.

It looked like that goal was achieved.

Camp coordinator Gilbert “Doc” Thomas said the camp remains free of charge to participants because of the generosity of the sponsors for the camp T-shirts, the meal and the facilities, as well as the volunteer coaches.

Sponsors included Dauterive Hospital, Teche Federal Bank, Gilbert “Doc” Thomas AllState Insurance, District Attorney Phil Haney’s Community Projects Inc., Linear Controls, Cargill, Regions Bank, Uncle’s Barbecue Sauce and Super 1 Foods.