Becoming a running back involves years of hard work, hours in the weight room, and a bad habit of leaving keys at home. Lower a kid's 40-yard run-home time with today's Groupon: for $110, you get four days of camp, a jersey, and a T-shirt at Norcal Youth Football Camps (a $240 value). Groupon holders may register for the July 11–14 session held at St. Mary's College Prep in Berkeley, or the July 18–21 session held at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma.

The experienced coaches at Norcal Youth Football Camps teach players of all skill levels ages 7–14 to safely maximize their potential on and off the field. Entrust a fledgling fullback or young sacking sensation to camp director Ken Peralta and his perpetually Gatorade-soaked coaching staff for four days as they mold raw talent into finely tuned wide receivers, linebackers, and linemen. The first half of the camp, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., involves warm-ups and a defensive clinic before campers break for a half hour lunch. Lunch is followed by offensive clinics, games, and an autograph-perfecting tutorial to round out the day, which concludes at 2 p.m.

Above all else, Norcal Youth Football Camp maintains a safe learning environment, and provides top-notch safety equipment and pads for campers; though most equipment is provided, cleats are not. The staff supervises kids from drop-off to pick-up, keeping a close eye on all games and drills, and all campers are matched appropriately by age, size, and ability.