Volleyball workouts to start Aug. 1
With the start of the fall sports seasons less than two weeks away, preparations are in full swing for summer workouts for both volleyball and football.
The volleyball girls will start practicing on Wednesday, Aug. 1, with the football program beginning on Monday, Aug. 6.
Based on interest shown in May by local students, coaches are expecting more participants than last year.
Volleyball Workouts
All high school girls interested in volleyball in the fall will begin practices on Aug. 1 at 7:30 a.m. with the issuing of equipment and uniforms, according to head coach Kimberly Hill.
“We only have a couple of days of practice this year before our first scrimmage,” Hill said. “If everyone comes who has said they are playing, we will have 30 girls this year. That will mean we can have three squads, which is much better for the younger girls because everyone will get more opportunities to play.”
The coach said that only half of the players took part in the team camp held last week, but that all girls are welcome to come be part of the program.
She said that there will be four returning players off last year’s varsity squad.
“We are going to be very young this year, and we don’t have a lot of height,” Hill said. “There also will not be any senior players.”
All players who have indicated they are interested in playing were sent letters in June outlining dates and times for workouts, along with several required forms that must be signed and returned by the first day of practice.
“All of the 15 girls who came to camp have returned their paperwork,” the coach said. “Everyone else can bring it to us on Aug. 1.”
All students must also have a physical exam completed prior to working out, although most students underwent exams during the last week of school in May.
Anyone who has not had a physical exam must arrange for one at their own expense before coming to workouts. Exams are typically available at both ResourceCare and the Shackelford Health Care Clinic.
Additional participation forms that must be signed by parents, along with physical forms, are available from Coach Hill.
The Lady Lions will start the season with a scrimmage in Clyde on Aug. 3 starting at 9:00 a.m., followed by a second set of scrimmages in Breckenridge on Aug. 4, also at 9:00 a.m.
The first regular season game is set for Tuesday, Aug. 7 in Jim Ned.
The Lady Lions will host a local tournament on Aug. 10-11.
The Albany girls will play in District 6-2A this season, which includes three new teams and three from their former district. Albany, Hawley, Moran, and Woodson will be joined by new district opponents Newcastle, Ranger, and Strawn.
The schedule can be accessed online at the district’s website, albanyisd.net, by clicking on the Albany Junior/Senior High School tab, then going under athletics.
Junior high players will not meet until the first day of classes on Aug. 16.
Football Starts Aug. 6
Workouts for the Lion football teams will start at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 6 and will continue at the same starting time throughout the first week.
Both JV and varsity players will be issued equipment on the first morning, followed by practice until about noon. Daily practices will follow the same schedule except on teacher workdays when workouts will be in the afternoons.
“We are going to meet in the mornings when it is cooler as much as possible,” head coach Denney Faith said. “There may be some days the second week that will have to be moved to the afternoons if the staff has meetings.”
All practices will shift to the afternoons when school starts on Aug. 16.
Letters for all prospective players in grades 7-12 were sent last week, including all required forms that must be signed b y parents. Forms must be returned on the first day of workouts.
Junior high students will return forms on Aug. 16 when classes start.
Faith said that he is expecting about 50 high school players at workouts, which will be almost 10 more than last season.
Albany graduated a large senior class of 13 players, with a small junior class moving up with only five or six players.
Anyone interested in participating in football who did not receive a letter should contact Faith.
The Lions will open the season hosting a scrimmage against Coleman on Friday, Aug. 17 at 7:00 p.m. A second scrimmage is set for Thursday, Aug. 23 in Anson starting at 7:30 p.m.
The regular season opener is set for Friday, Aug. 31 against Colorado City starting at 7:30 p.m.
Albany is playing in District 7-2A this season along with Cross Plains, Haskell, Roscoe, Baird, and Hamlin. Roby is officially in the district, but had to drop out of the varsity football schedule in June due to low numbers. They are expected to play a JV schedule.
The district coaches reshuffled the schedule, with each school having two open dates instead of one. Albany filled the extra date with a game against The Brook Hill School near Tyler on Saturday, Sept. 29.
Faith said that the school’s recently renovated weight room will continue to be open for athletes to use from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
“We need the guys who participated in the summer conditioning program to continue working out in the weight room,” he said. “And all those who didn’t show up or who had conflicts really need to be hitting the weight room on their own to try to get in shape for two-a-days.”
Like the volleyball athletes, all football players must have a physical exam prior to showing up for workouts. Exams we offered free of charge during the last week of classes in May. Any student who did not have a exam will have to arrange for one at his own expense.
