Volleyball workouts start Aug. 1
High school volleyball players will return to the court next Wednesday for summer workouts, with high football players following a few days later to prepare for the 2018 season.
The volleyball girls will start practicing on Wednesday, Aug. 1, with the football program beginning on Monday, Aug. 6.
Coaches for both programs are anticipating an increase in numbers this season if all the athletes who expressed intentions to play show up for workouts, also referred to as two-a-days.
Cross country runners will meet on Aug. 1 to set up running schedules and discuss the upcoming season.
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 short time to practice before our first scrimmage,” Hill said. “We are expecting about 30 girls this year, which means we can have three squads.”
The coach said that only half of the players took part in the team camp held earlier in the month, but that all girls are welcome to come be part of the program.
“If we have the numbers for three teams, it will mean a lot more playing time for the younger girls,” she said.
The Lady Lions have 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 their signed paperwork 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 County Health Clinic.
Additional participation forms that must be signed by parents and 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.
Albany will play in District 6-2A this season, which includes three new teams and three from the former district. Albany, Hawley, Moran and Woodson will be joined by new district opponents Newcastle, Ranger, and Strawn.
Junior high players will not meet until the first day of classes on Aug. 16.
Football Starts Aug. 6
Summer workouts for the 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 held in the afternoons.
“We are going to meet in the mornings as much as possible when it is cooler,” head coach Denney Faith said. “There may be some days the second week that will have to be moved to the afternoon if the staff has meetings or training.”
All practices will shift to the afternoons when school starts on Aug. 16.
Letters for all prospective players in grades 7-12 were sent two weeks ago, including all required forms that must be signed by 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 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 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 were offered free of charge during the last week of classes in May. Students who did not have exams will have to arrange for them at their own expense.
Cross Country Meeting
The first meeting for cross country runners is set for next Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 8:00 a.m. in the gym lobby.
Coach Tate Thompson doesn’t know how many students will be participating this season, but he is hoping to have enough to have both boys’ and girls’ teams.
The first meet is set for Sept. 4.
Participants are also required to have paperwork signed by a parent and a physical exam prior to starting workouts.
Contact coach Thompson for more information.
