NATCHEZ — The Alcorn State football coaching staff will host a summer football developmental camp featuring Alcorn State head football coach Jay Hopson and other members of his staff Thursday at Natchez High School.

The 2013 Jay Hopson Football Camp will be for players ages 7 to 14 and will focus primarily on teaching the fundamentals of the game, Hopson said.

“We’re teaching them how to play the game, be safe, ball security, getting into a stance, just basic fundamentals,” Hopson said. “We’ll do a junior-senior camp in Lorman June 15, but this is more of a chance to help and provide a service to the youth and young football players in the area.”

The Alcorn staff is also hosting the camp in Vicksburg today and put on the camp in Lorman Tuesday for Fayette and Port Gibson youth, Hopson said. Hopson said it was important to reach out to Alcorn’s local base and make the university’s presence felt in the community.

“We want to do whatever we can in the local communities to help young people,” Hopson said. “I want to give something back to young football players, and this is a chance to come out and get coached by some very knowledgeable coaches and give exposure to Alcorn State football.”

And teaching young players the correct way to play football is something in which Hopson has a personal interest, he said.

“I may only get a little bit of time with them, but if one things sticks that allows them to play the game safer and more fundamentally sound, I think I’ve done a good service,” Hopson said.

Natchez High School was an ideal location for the camp, Hopson said, because of relationships he’s already established with the coaches there.

“(NHS head coach) Lance (Reed) is a good friend, and he does a great job in Natchez,” Hopson said. “We have some big schools in our area, and this is a great opportunity for young people in these areas to play a little football.”

Registration will last from 8 to 9 a.m., and the camp will go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $60 per child, which includes a T-shirt and lunch.