By NCAA Division III rules if we make physical testing mandatory in the off-season it has to be counted as a practice opportunity . This is a high priority for us, and the first 4 days in week #1 are dedicated to strength, running, and jumping tests. This testing allows us to see who has improved and developed college level strength. Based on these results, the staff makes our first depth chart evaluation as per where players stand at their position.
We have to balance things off with our track program where many of our skill kids are the sprinters and jumpers for Coach Stevens. Our heaviest team work is placed in the week after the ODAC Track and Field Championship. On most of our post testing days, we will have position meetings and mandatory weight sessions where the kids can now get hands on instruction from our coaches. Throughout the days that are declared for practice there will be a lot of individual skill sessions scheduled by the staff for small teaching sessions run by position coaches. Many skill sessions start at 6:30 am in the morning or are fitted off of players academic schedules.
From a staff prospective our goals are really three fold in this period. Teach fundamentals in football without the pressure of having to prepare to win a game. Introduce the base schemes that are used on the Offensive and Defensive side of the ball and most importantly identify the kids who are committed to the program. In this period, with things being mandatory we get the chance to convert the ones whose off-season work falls into that “sometimes committed” category. No question we need to expand our core group of kids who are in the ALWAYS COMMITTED group. It will be difficult to compete without this development, and as coaches we value the access we get to our team over the next 16 days.
~ Coach Clark
