Testing In Fall Camp

We don't cardiovasucarly test our athetes when they report but we do test our teams strength, what I don't want to do is maintain during the season but improve on as the season progresses and increase team strength. You have what you have and we are going to condition no matter how they report condition wish. We have an excellent summer off-season program so I know the core of the program will report in semi good condition. Want to improve our strength during the season not just maintain. Coach CAmpbell.

Coach,

I have always had a tough Summer work out schedule for my athletes that starts in February and goes right up until Fall practice. I believe in a very strong cardiovascular regimen. As Coach Campbell stresses strength, and not just maintaining but improving, I do as well. However, I really stress running year 'round also. I run a 5 wide spread and if you can't run all day and all night and all the next day, it isn't the attack for you. My athletes run a mile and a half (6 laps of a HS track) Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesday and Thursdays, they run 10 100 yd. sprints starting with 30 seconds between reps and get that down to 10 seconds between reps by the opening of Fall practice. On Mon-Wed-Fri we work upper body and Tues-Thurs we work lower body in the weight room after our running is finished. On our lower body workout days, we also have 3 12 minute sets on the stair climber, treadmill, and stationary bicycle. Everyone, all positions, participate. On opening day of Fall practice, all skill players have to run the mile and a half in 10:30 seconds or under, everyone else gets 11:30 seconds or under. If they can't do it, and if they have been faithful to the Summer workouts there is absolutely no reason they can't, they just have to keep running for time until they do. As a freshman at Clemson, my son ran it in 8:54 and as a Senior he ran it in 8:27 I once worked under a coach for a short period that said he had neve heard of any coach worried about his players running stamina in the summer time. To me that is nonsense, if you can't run your not going to win,imo.

Coach Easton

I'm in complete agreement with Coach Campbell on this one. Although a conditioning test, regardless of the type (12 min, 300 shuttle, 110s, etc), is a mainstay in most high school and college programs, none of these tests will really be a good indicator of one's conditioning for playing the game of football. The only way to get into FOOTBALL shape is to play the game of football. I think a sound offseason or preseason conditioning program along with players who are dedicated and will work are great, but they will still all show up in july/august with many different levels of conditioning.

My opinion? Give them a general preseason conditioning program that is AT LEAST "somewhat specific" to the game of football, such as 110s, 60s or the conditioning drills known as "quarters", I believe (im not talking about 400s, here). Then let them play football when camp starts. The three to four weeks of playing the game, in addition to the preseason work, will have them ready to play.

I'm also in complete agreement with Coach C. about the strength issue. Don't train hard in the offseason just to get weak during the season.

Coach E...great point about the stalk blocking...a good blocking wideout can be the difference b/w a 5 yard gain and a 60 yd gain!

MMMMMM....smell that wet, morning bermuda grass already!

Coach E,

I kind of wondered where that stalk block suggestion came from..haha. Either way though...its the truth!