Conditioning continues

By Sam Waller

Albany’s summer conditioning programs for boys and girls entered its second week with participation rates holding steady.

“It’s just good, hard work,” Albany head football coach Denney Faith said. “We’ve had about the same number of kids, 20 to 25, showing up. Obviously, we’d like to have a few more.”

Summer workouts are regulated by UIL rules.

Boys summer sessions are from 7:00 a.m. to about 8:30 a.m. each Monday through Thursday until July 21, except for July 4. Workouts include weight lifting, agility drills and conditioning.

Faith said attendance is particularly strong among younger students.

“We have a good junior high group coming right now, but we sure need some of our older guys to start participating when they can,” he said.

Afternoon skill sessions are also being conducted twice a week. Faith said the one-hour sessions are being held at 5:00 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

Girls sessions are scheduled for Monday through Thursday through June 30, then from July 18 through July 28. Daily sessions are 9:00-10:00 a.m.

The final basketball open gym session for girls will be 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 27.

Volleyball will have sport-specific instruction  10:30-11:30 a.m. on four Thursdays – June 23 (today) and 30 and July 14 and 21.

Preseason practices for high school football and volleyball begin Monday, Aug. 1. Junior high sports cannot hold practices until school starts.

Faith said a letter containing all necessary paperwork will be sent to prospective football players in the next couple of weeks.

“Those should be going out at the end of this week or the first part of next week, the end of June or the first of July.”