Volleyball workouts start Aug. 1
By Donnie A. Lucas
Local high school athletes participating in fall sports have just about a week of summer remaining with volleyball two-a-day practices starting next Thursday, Aug. 1, followed by football and cross country slated to begin Monday, Aug. 5.
The Lady Lion volleyball team will meet at 6:45 a.m. next Thursday to turn in required paperwork, then will start practice at 7:00 a.m.
The football and cross programs will meet for the first time at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 5.
Volleyball Starts
Thursday
Girls interested in volleyball at the high school level will only have two days of workouts before scrimmaging in Breckenridge on Saturday, Aug. 3, according to new head volleyball coach M.J. Reneau.
“We have had 32 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.
The coach mailed out letters recently to all the girls who showed an interest in playing, but workouts are open to everyone. In case a player did not receive a letter with the forms that are needed on the first day, the coach said to contact her ahead of time.
The letter included 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 web site under the athletic forms tab.
Reneau coached in Albany as an assistant three years ago, then spent the last two school years at 6A Tascosa High School in Amarillo as the JV volleyball and assistant girls basketball coach.
The Lady Lions will practice from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. and return at 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on both 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 working on skill work and conditioning on Thursday, then divide into teams on Friday and learn rotations.
The Lady Lions will scrimmage against Breckenridge and Mineral Wells 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, which will include 12 varsity teams and 16 JV and freshmen squads.
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 a.m. 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,” he said.
Faith said 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.
Coaches are typically at the field house starting at 7:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday for strength and agility trainings.
Faith said that players should start working out 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 year.
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 made the decision a few months ago to drop to six-man football.
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, 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.
Cross Country
Meeting
Coach Tate Thompson set a first meeting for high school cross country runners for 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 5.
“We will issue equipment, set up a workout schedule and talk about the season,” he said. “Our first actual workout will be on Tuesday, Aug. 6.”
Thompson said that he didn’t know how many students to expect.
“Participation has been very inconsistent the last couple of years, so I don’t know who might be running this year,” he said. “Anyone who has an interest in cross country is encouraged to come to the meeting.”
Junior high runners will not meet until the first day of school on Aug. 15.
