Mount Vernon News

Area teams kick off preseason

MOUNT VERNON — If the weather is getting so hot the general population can hardly stand it — then it must be time for the first high school football practices of the season. Even the first few practices that are done without pads can help a team get off on the right foot. How things work out after the first week of practice can go a long way in defining a team’s success through the rest of the season.

Several area coaches took the time to talk about the impact of the first bit of practicing, and how it feels to get back on the field. Mount Vernon head Coach Gary Keller had his first taste of Yelllow Jacket football on Thursday evening. After months of anticipation, Keller was finally able to take the field in preparation for a new era.

“We’ve definitely been anxious to get out there on the field. Everyone involved is ready to play some football,” said Keller. “We’re a young team, so it’s nice to get the learning curve rolling.”

It was not a full contact practice, so Keller was hesitant to read too much into anything.

“It’s difficult on the days with just a helmet. It’s just not how the game should be played,” said Keller. “There are some advantages to it, though. It helps us with our communication, which is crucial when you have players working with a new system on both sides of the ball.”

Keller is not the only new coach in the area. Danville’s Jack O’Rourke is hoping to get off on the right foot with a new team.

“A big part of the first week is discipline. The kids need to know they can’t just go through the motions. They need to be working hard,” said O’Rourke. “We look to establish a strong work ethic, and a lot of that is done through conditioning during the opening days of practice.

“It also gives us a chance to go through the terminology. We can teach a lot of the concepts now, so we can focus on the bigger things later. All in all, it’s all about improving with each practice.”

Fredericktown head coach Luke Beal has similar plans for the first couple of practices.

“Those are our big conditioning days. It’s what we focus on all summer long. We expect high attendance at the work outs,” said Beal. “We play in a very tough, physical conference, so it’s important that we’re prepared physically.

“We’re also able to use that first week to get some of the mental stuff out of the way. We go through the X’s and O’s, so the guys don’t have to think as much once we can get the full gear on. It’s important to have the fundamentals down so you can be ready to go when two-a-days start.”

The opening week is also used to bring a team together, as Johnstown head coach Mike Carter was quick to note.

“A lot of time is spent making sure the kids are able to cooperate and work together on the field,” said Carter. “Things come together a lot better when everyone can get their fundamentals together, and put an emphasis on a team philosophy. That means putting out as much effort as possible to make the team better.”

Conditioning is the focus for most teams during the off-season, and Mount Vernon’s was no exception.

“I’m pretty happy with the shape everyone was in when they came to practice,” said Keller. “The coaches have done a good job of keeping the kids on a lifting program. That’s important — that they come ready to go.”

Part of the concern with athletes being in shape is that the condtioning for summer baseball or basketball is much different than being in “football” shape.

“We haven’t had much of a problem with that. We actually encourage the kids to play different sports,” said Beal. “The guys are going about staying with a program during the other seasons to keep in shape. It also helps keep them prepared to compete. Live action in a variety of sports can be the best possible preparation.”

The best way to ensure that preparation will occur is to have the entire athletic department on the same page.

“All of the coaches communicate together to make sure the athletes can stay on a workout schedule, and make the transition as soon as possible,” said Carter. “We want everyone who comes to practice to be in good shape, and just as importantly, in a good frame of mind.”

Though the first week is tough, the coaches seem to think it is worth it when real practice starts.

“It’s always a good feeling to go into those first two-a-day practices,” said Beal. “That means the first game is only three weeks away, and everyone can get more excited about that. That can bring up the intensity, which is key to any practice. We want to have a good tempo, and set a standard that we can follow through for the rest of the season.”

For the most part, the coach is able to use the practice to see what the kids have in them, and often, to show the player what is inside of them.

“I believe there is a superstar in each kid that is out there. All I’m trying to do is to get them to scratch the surface,” said Keller. “We’re trying to get these kids to go to a level that they haven’t reached before. They’re able to find a lot when the dig down inside.

“This also gives us the chance to find out who our leaders are. We want to start off on a positive note, and leadership is an important part of that. We want to be a first class program, both on and off the field. We’re hoping to become a team that will make the city of Mount Vernon proud.”