Helps baseball and softball even more, giving them a place to practice in the early spring when it's wet and sloppy outside.

In all seriousness, are those two weeks of spring football that vital to a programs success at the high school level. I know it's another evaluation period, and you can put some basic things in, but are seasons really made or broken in the spring??

This!!! I was just going to say the same thing.

 

As far as the Spring Practices. They never have the full roster only because some are still playing baseball etc. Spring Practice is good however for the players that are still on the fence of whether they want to play or not or even those first time players to get a taste of what it's all about. Coaches only benefit from those practices in seeing some of the new kids and getting an idea of what they will have.

With so many kids playing spring sports...it is NOT make or break by any means. Coaches can work with kids anytime out of pads anyway. Too much emphasis placed on spring ball. IF we ever get to a point where we can scrimmage, then I think it really does mean something.

 

 

I'm guessing you mean against another school, but....

 

schools that 2 platoon and have large rosters are able to do this. I know that my school ends spring practice with a full scrimmage (on their turf field)..

A lot of schools (most) at the 1A and 2A level do not even have Spring practice because there is simply not enough players not in a Spring sport to make it worthwhile.

That's a broad brush you're painting with and a flawed excuse for not having Spring Practice.

That's a broad brush you're painting with and a flawed excuse for not having Spring Practice.

 

Ehh, I don't know. I think it's pretty realistic at several places to be honest, especially those places (1A to even 3A) where there is a strong baseball program and football/baseball share quite a bit. Sounds better saying it's an excuse, but I think it's very realistic in many places.

 

Then, I know other parts of the state where you can ask the football coach, "How do you work around baseball?" And, they look back at you with a look of WTH, and saying "What baseball? We don't play baseball."

 

...like the one school I referenced earlier. All 9 starters are football kids, and that's JUST the starters.

 

If you have 40 kids 9-12 every year, and 15 of those are freshmen (who can't go through spring practice with the HS when they are 8th graders), then you take another 9-12 (mostly skill kids) playing baseball...you are left with about 15-20 kids (mostly linemen). Not exactly the clientele to put together a full look, or close.

Ehh, I don't know. I think it's pretty realistic at several places to be honest, especially those places (1A to even 3A) where there is a strong baseball program and football/baseball share quite a bit. Sounds better saying it's an excuse, but I think it's very realistic in many places.

I say it's an excuse because their are ways to work around it: alternating times for baseball and football practice, scheduling the 10 practices on days there are not baseball games, and the football coach working with the baseball and track coaches to make it happen.

 

As for numbers: half line drills, individual drills, just being around the game will make improvement. I don't care if it's 10 players, just work on footwork, hand work, and position specific stuff. Those 10 players will get better because of that time.

 

If getting better at football is a priority to the coaching staff, school and players, spring football should be a priority. Not having it for any reason, is an excuse in my book.

I say it's an excuse because their are ways to work around it: alternating times for baseball and football practice, scheduling the 10 practices on days there are not baseball games, and the football coach working with the baseball and track coaches to make it happen.

 

As for numbers: half line drills, individual drills, just being around the game will make improvement. I don't care if it's 10 players, just work on footwork, hand work, and position specific stuff. Those 10 players will get better because of that time.

 

If getting better at football is a priority to the coaching staff, school and players, spring football should be a priority. Not having it for any reason, is an excuse in my book.

 

I don't know anybody who doesn't do that. Quite honestly, those are also some of the best in season practice methods IMO.

 

Then again, I'm a little bit of a cynic..err...realist when it comes to things, too. You made mention of scheduling 10 practices on days where there are not baseball games...well, what about baseball practice? Personally, I think baseball practices are as valuable as any due to the fact that come the 2nd week of March....kids don't practice anymore. Play 3-4 games a week, practice two.

 

 

I know of a guy down in FLA, a program who is in their highest classification and has won multiple state titles...granted they are talented, but actually not near as talented as the bulk of their competition. He made a comment of how they do things probably a little against the grain, things that might not sound right.....ie: only practicing/working out twice a week during the summer from the time school gets out until actual "practice" starts, don't do two-a-days, etc. The whole room of coaches looked at each other like he was speaking some sort of blasphemy.

 

Let me ask you something, though...honest question. What type of baseball program/history does Raceland have? Would football adjust for baseball while football is in season? How would the thought of fall baseball go during football season if 9-12 of the players (key players I might add) were effected? Could you see the baseball coach coming to Coach Maynard in October and saying, "Hey coach....I need you to alternate football practice times during these next three weeks?"

 

I mean, it sounds good. I get it. I do....I totally understand.

 

I'm a fan of spring practice...I'm just not one of these that buys into the hype that it really makes that much of a difference(give the coaching staff an idea of who can do what going into next year, work on a couple things to be that much further ahead when the season begins? A new coach getting to familiarize with his team? Etc? Absolutely.)

 

Then again, I'm also one of these people that realize that there are no amount of agility drills that can fix little Johnny's ankles being the width of his calves, either.

Then again, I'm a little bit of a cynic..err...realist when it comes to things, too. You made mention of scheduling 10 practices on days where there are not baseball games...well, what about baseball practice? Personally, I think baseball practices are as valuable as any due to the fact that come the 2nd week of March....kids don't practice anymore. Play 3-4 games a week, practice two.

 

Let me ask you something, though...honest question. What type of baseball program/history does Raceland have? Would football adjust for baseball while football is in season? How would the thought of fall baseball go during football season if 9-12 of the players (key players I might add) were effected? Could you see the baseball coach coming to Coach Maynard in October and saying, "Hey coach....I need you to alternate football practice times during these next three weeks?"

In all honesty, that's what happens at Raceland. The coaches make an honest effort to work around each other. The "In season" sports get priority with players, but the "out of season" sports work around the in season sports. It works very well. For example, spring football practices is, sometimes, scheduled at 5 or 6 pm so the baseball and track players can practice baseball or track after school like they always do, then players can come to spring football practice. Spring practices is scheduled over the 15 day window, as best as possible, on days there are not baseball games or track meets. If a player that plays baseball does not want to participate in Spring Football Practice, he does not have to, it is not held against him. In fact, they are encouraged to not participate in football and stick with their "In season" sport.

 

Raceland has an average baseball program, to be honest. They win more then they lose, but don't get out of the region. Football is king at Raceland. I don't think anyone would disagree with those statements. But, the working together of the coaches occurs no matter how good the respective teams are.

 

I still say not having Spring Football is because of a lack of emphases placed on it and finding an excuse to not have it is wrong.

And, I know we can name a few quality programs around the state and the country that do not have Spring Football, but I venture a guess that even those schools do something doing that period that may not be strictly football practice. They work harder on footwork and agility, do more outside work then normal, or have some type of competitions during that period.

 

I could agree not having Spring Football was acceptable if someone could give me a valid reason not to have it. But, because of numbers or other sports is not it. Tell me, "nothing can be accomplished during that time", or "no one showed up", at least that is a defendable opinion, but don't tell me "we don't have the numbers" or "it's baseball season". Those are excuses, does basketball have open gyms? Does baseball have summer and fall workouts? Yep, plus those coaches know their players are playing traveling basketball leagues and summer and fall baseball teams. They know their players are working on their sport. Football players can't do that, they are given 15 days to work on "actual" football, if I was coaching, I would take advantage of it.

Spring practice doesn't make or break a season, but basketball workouts sure can put a big dent in it if your best players are out shooting hoops from the end of the bb season till July 15th. People with turf fields generally have to share with other sports (middle school soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, the freakin lockness monster, etc.) and unless you are at a "Football" school, which there aren't generally that many in KY you get used to getting what you can. With any luck we should try to get 7v7 through June and July like in the past. JMHO...

I was looking at Raceland's baseball history. They've been to the region tourney 4 times since '98.

 

And, I know it's hypothetical question, but how would Fall baseball practice go over?

 

I do agree with what you said about not doing anything, and I don't know of many...if any, that don't do something with what they have available.

 

For the record, comparing baseball programs, in comparison...while Raceland has made it to the region tourney 4 times since '98, this other particular school had won 11 straight district titles including their first losing season in almost 30 years in recent history. Little bit of a difference as far as emphasis on baseball in the school and community I'm guessing. lol

Spring practice doesn't make or break a season, but basketball workouts sure can put a big dent in it if your best players are out shooting hoops from the end of the bb season till July 15th.

I can respect that opinion, but I contend if the Spring Practice is utilized properly, it can make a huge difference and can make a team much better.

Spring practice doesn't make or break a season, but basketball workouts sure can put a big dent in it if your best players are out shooting hoops from the end of the bb season till July 15th. People with turf fields generally have to share with other sports (middle school soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, the freakin lockness monster, etc.) and unless you are at a "Football" school, which there aren't generally that many in KY you get used to getting what you can. With any luck we should try to get 7v7 through June and July like in the past. JMHO...

 

Agreed.

 

With your muti sport athletes (two or even three sport), the following scenarios aren't really hard decisions for kids in June:

 

1) Go to football workouts to lift and run, maybe do some intersquad 7v7 action.

 

....or....

 

2) Go play baseball GAMES all day.

3) Go play basketball GAMES all day.

I was looking at Raceland's baseball history. They've been to the region tourney 4 times since '98.

 

And, I know it's hypothetical question, but how would Fall baseball practice go over?

 

I do agree with what you said about not doing anything, and I don't know of many...if any, that don't do something with what they have available.

 

For the record, comparing baseball programs, in comparison...while Raceland has made it to the region tourney 4 times since '98, this other particular school had won 11 straight district titles including their first losing season in almost 30 years in recent history. Little bit of a difference as far as emphasis on baseball in the school and community I'm guessing. lol

I said, "average" lol.

 

Actually, Raceland's baseball team does have some fall workouts, like I said before, the players are told they are to attend all football meeting first because it is "in season".

 

How many players does the school you speak of share in baseball and football?To be honest, Raceland never has that many, 2-5 normally. With 45 football players on the roster, losing five to baseball and say 12 to graduation, that leaves 28 players to participate in Spring football.

I said, "average" lol.

 

Actually, Raceland's baseball team does have some fall workouts, like I said before, the players are told they are to attend all football meeting first because it is "in season".

 

How many players does the school you speak of share in baseball and football?To be honest, Raceland never has that many, 2-5 normally. With 45 football players on the roster, losing five to baseball and say 12 to graduation, that leaves 28 players to participate in Spring football.

 

Last year all 9 starters were football players.

 

This year, for next years 9-12, it will be in upwards of 15.

 

Which for the record, they'll dress about 50 total next year and 40 of them...yes, 40 of them will be freshmen and sophomores.

Spring practice has been more like a linemen camp the last two years, which has been good...fun times.