Albany athletes back at work this week
By Donnie A. Lucas
Local athletes entering grades 7-12 got a break from summer conditioning and sport specific training last week but were back working this week.
Both the boys and girls sessions will be on hold again next week due to the boys coaches attending coaching school, along with UIL setting some blackout dates next week.
“At this point, nothing is planned for next week,” athletic director Ryder Peacock said. “If that changes, I’ll send out a notice.
Peacock added that the final week of morning conditioning sessions and afternoon sport-specific training will be the week of July 27-30. Two-a-day workouts for football and volleyball are scheduled to begin on Monday, Aug. 3.
Numbers were down some this week for the girls conditioning, with only 13 reporting on Monday. However, by Tuesday there were about 17 participating in the morning session.
On the boys side, about 35 athletes showed up for workouts in the morning and close to the same number for football drills in the afternoon.
Boys are scheduled for conditioning workouts from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday, while sessions for girls are held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., also on Monday through Thursday mornings.
In addition to conditioning, athletes are allowed to engage in a limited amount of sport-specific training.
The boys are practicing individual skills specific to football on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.
The girls finished up an hour of basketball skills in June, but volleyball sessions are expected to continue during the week of July 27-30.
Peacock said that UIL also is allowing limited offensive and defensive practice drills to be used starting this week.
Girls who plan to participate in high school volleyball will have the opportunity to participate in a team camp later this month.
The Lady Lions volleyball team camp, which is limited to girls in grades 9-12 who plan to play volleyball in the fall, has been set for July 29-31 at the high school.
The camp will be conducted by Amelia Reeves, who was the instructor last year.
