ON BREAK:

The dog days of August are upon us. Pennant races are heating up and the start of school looms in the coming weeks. But what was on the minds of about 20 kids at Balearic Park on Monday?

Certainly not baseball or textbooks.

The kids were out to play some football.

And while there weren’t any pads, helmets or cleats to be seen, the yellow and red flags were out in full force, signaling the kick-off to the weeklong flag football camp put on by Costa Mesa’s Recreation Division.

Brian Beerbower, recreation manager, teaches the kids from his experience as a flag football coach of five years.

To his campers, the easygoing Beerbower is simply known as “Mr. Dude.”

“Mr. Dude is really energetic,” 11-year old Sam Bunker said. “He’s just an all-around fun guy.”

“He’s pretty cool,” Josh Ring, 13, said. “He’s laid-back and lets us play games.”

The camp offers an introduction to football for many of the kids and is a precursor to the flag football league Costa Mesa will hold in the fall, which is open to children from grades six to eight.

Beerbower teaches his campers the fundamentals of flag football, whether it’s how to run routes, make cuts or pull flags.

Despite all the learning going on, Beerbower still does his best to make sure it’s a free and easy environment with the kids. When Sam made a mistake during a drill, Mr. Dude told him what he did wrong, but in a calm and relaxed manner.

“I’ve had other coaches that scream in my face,” Sam said.

The kids — even the oldest ones — can be seen joking around and having a good time during water breaks.

“I want them to learn the basic fundamentals of flag football and be able to apply them,” Beerbower said. “Mostly, I just want them to have fun and enjoy the sport.”

The flag football camp has been a hit among local kids so far; it’s the most popular sports camp the recreation department has put on this year, and two extra campers are on the wait list.

“It’s awesome,” Beerbower said. “The kids are very receptive to learning, and this is our biggest camp.”

Though football is certainly a popular sport — a few of the kids were decked out in NFL jerseys — the best thing about the camp might be much more basic than running routes or calling plays.

“I just like playing and being out here with my friends,” Josh said.

KIDS TALK BACK

What do you like the most about football?

“Playing the sport and winning.”

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“Getting out there and messing around with my friends.”

11, Costa Mesa

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“Scoring touchdowns.”

11, Costa Mesa

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“Scoring a touchdown.”

10, Costa Mesa

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“Getting out there and getting the fresh air.”

10, Santa Ana