Volleyball workouts to start Aug. 1
By Donnie A. Lucas
Summer workouts are scheduled to begin in just two weeks for fall sports such as volleyball, football and cross country, signaling that summer vacation time is quickly coming to a close.
The Lady Lion volleyball team will meet on Thursday, Aug. 1 for two-a-day workouts, while the football teams and cross country runners have to wait until Monday, Aug. 5 to begin.
Coaches for both volleyball and football are encouraged by the interest being shown by students for the upcoming seasons.
Volleyball Meets First
Girls interested in volleyball will start summer workouts on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 6:45 a.m., according to new head volleyball coach M.J. Reneau.
“We have had over 25 girls sign up for our team camp, which is July 28-30, and we are expecting even more to show up for two-a-days,” Reneau said. “I mailed out letters last week to all the girls who showed an interest in playing this year.”
The coach said that the letter included the details about the summer workouts, as well as copies of forms that must be signed and returned on the first day before workouts start.
“If anyone didn’t get the letter, they are still welcome to join us,” she said. “They can go to the school website and print the required forms or get them from me or one of the other coaches.”
The letter included several forms or waivers that must be signed by parents including a concussion acknowledgement form, steroid agreement form, and sudden cardiac arrest awareness form.
All athletes must also have a complete physical exam prior to working out. The school offered free physicals in May for students who are entering grades 7-12 next month. Anyone who did not have a physical completed must have one conducted prior to the first day of workouts.
The forms necessary for the physical exam are also on the school website under the athletic forms tab.
“We will only have two days of workouts before our first scrimmages,” the coach said. “We will meet the first day at 6:45 a.m. to turn in forms and hand out equipment, followed by a two-hour workout session that will start at 7:00 a.m. both days.”
The Lady Lions will come back for a second session from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
“We only have two days to practice,” Reneau said. “We will be using a similar system that the girls have used in the past, but we are looking at a new defense.”
She added that the girls will be focusing on skill work and conditioning on Thursday, then dividing into teams on Friday and learning rotations.
The Lady Lions will scrimmage several teams in Breckenridge on Saturday, Aug 3, followed by the first game of the season on Tuesday, Aug. 6 in Jim Ned.
The Lady Lions will host the annual Albany Summer Slam Tournament on Aug. 8-10.
Albany will again play in District 6-2A along with Hawley, Moran, Newcastle, Ranger, Strawn, and Woodson. The district race starts Sept. 14 at home against Strawn.
Junior high students will not meet until the first day of school on Aug. 15.
Football Starts Aug. 5
Workouts for the Lion football players will start at 8:00 on Monday, Aug. 5.
Players will be issued equipment and turn in forms before going to the practice field for the first workout.
“The times for practice will change almost daily,” head football coach Denney Faith said. “Teachers start in-service training on Tuesday, so we will have to adjust our practice times through the first week and a half until classes start on Aug. 15.”
The coach says he is expecting about 50 players to show up for workouts.
“We sent out letters last week to all boys in grades 7-12 who we think are planning to play, but everyone is welcome to join us,” the coach said.
Faith added that if a student did not receive a letter, he can contact the high school office or see one of the coaches to obtain the necessary forms.
Members of the coaching staff are typically at the field house starting at 7:00 a.m. on Monday through Thursday for strength and agility training.
Faith said that players should start working on their own or join the group for the morning conditioning class prior to showing up for two-a-days.
“The heat is going to be an issue, so the guys need to start getting acclimated to it and stay hydrated,” said Faith. “It looks like most of our workouts may be in the afternoons because of teacher trainings, so everyone needs to be ready for the heat.”
The Lions graduated a small senior class that included only five players last year, compared to a group of 13 seniors this season.
The Lions will play in District 7-2A again this season, along with Cross Plains, Haskell, Roscoe, and Hamlin. Baird was in the group last year but has dropped to six-man football this season.
The first scrimmage is set for Friday, Aug. 16 in Coleman, followed by a Thursday scrimmage on Aug. 22 at home against Anson.
The regular season will open on Friday, Aug. 30 in Colorado City. The open date is set for Oct. 11, which will be followed by district games starting at home on Oct. 18 against Roscoe.
Junior high players will not meet to work out until the first day of classes on Aug. 15.
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