Corey Granata put on a helmet, pads and cleats for the first time.

Michael Roman ran 30 yards for a touchdown, leaving defenders grasping at air in his wake.

Justin McDonald can already see the difference in the way that his run and pass blocking skills have improved.

They are among the 140 players, ages 11 to 14, who are taking part in the sold-out NFL-sponsored Junior Player Development Camp, a tackle football camp presented by Justin-Siena High School that began Monday.

“It’s a good environment for learning,” said Preston Laurence, a center-defensive tackle who attends St. Francis in Sonoma. “I’d rather do this any day of the week than play video games or sleep in or whatever. I love it here. I’m getting better.”

Best of all, the week-long camp is free. That’s right — there’s no charge to participate. And the NFL provides the equipment at no charge.

Thanks to the NFL, Justin-Siena athletic director Derek McIntyre and the Braves’ coaching staff, youths from throughout Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties are getting instruction in the basics of football and the fundamentals of the game for four hours each day at Braves’ Field.

It began early Monday when players were issued their gear. Not long after that, they were on the field, getting used to their uniforms, learning how to get in the right stance and how to run, block, tackle, throw and catch in drills. There was a scrimmage later in the day.

“It’s really a win-win for everybody involved,” McIntyre said. “The kids get a great week of camp at no charge. It’s a great opportunity for us as coaches to get a chance to work with a lot of the kids and to give back to the community. It’s great for the NFL — a chance to promote football and get kids excited about football.

“We’ve got kids with a wide variety of experience involved in the camp here. There are kids who have never played before, and it’s the first time they have ever put on pads. There are others who have been playing Pop Warner or other youth football. It’s really a chance to try to work on the basic fundamentals. It’s a lot of fun, just a great program. It gives them a chance to learn the game of football in a fun and positive environment.”

Before Monday, Granata didn’t know a lot about the game. By Tuesday, he was already talking about playing linebacker and the fact that he gets to make a lot of the stops.

“I’m getting the idea of football and what to do and how to play it,” said Granata, 14, who will be a freshman in the fall at Justin-Siena. “I want to learn how to play, how to do it and be better at my position.”

Roman, who will also start at Justin-Siena as a freshman next month, is using the six-day camp to try and get better as a running back.

“I’m trying to learn some new techniques,” said Roman, who makes his home on Mare Island in Vallejo. “I’m seeing holes and reading the defense. It’s been fun.”

McIntyre, who put on a similar camp in San Diego, is joined by Justin-Siena head football coach Rich Cotruvo and Braves’ assistants Steve Vargus, Brandon LaRocca and Steve Meyer. Also on hand is Edd Ghiringhelli, the Braves’ strength coach and head trainer. They are all volunteering their time.

Some players from the Napa Nighthawks and Napa Saints youth football organizations are participating in the camp, which goes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and concludes with Saturday’s 11 a. m. to 3 p.m. session.

“For a lot of kids, this is their first exposure to tackle football, this is their first time putting on a uniform,” said Cotruvo. “I think it’s a good way to expose kids to the game of football in a fun, safe environment. Hopefully, they have a positive experience and will want to continue on.”

The camp is designed for players to receive instruction at every position. The program integrates on-field skills development with life skills and character development, the NFL said.

Each life skill theme is addressed through the context of football with instructors making connections between life skills as they are applied on the field, in school, at home and in the community, the NFL said.

“The focus of the camp is to teach them fundamentals and also teach them life skills,” McIntyre said. “We have a focus of a different life skill each day. We try and incorporate not only the football aspects of that theme but also the life skills that will last them a lifetime.”

Each player gets a free team bag, wrist band and a practice jersey.

“It’s all about trying to help kids that may have not been able to afford these types of camps and have a good experience and really learn the game of football,” said McIntyre. “It gets kids excited about football. I think most of them are having a very good experience.”

For McDonald, who attends Adele Harrison Middle School in Sonoma, it’s been a great learning environment to be in.

“Football is my favorite sport,” he said. “I’ve had a chance to block people a few times. I want to learn how to block better because I’ve been struggling with that.”