Monday, August 17, 2009

The Stages of Football Practice....

With Pop Warner football there are very specific guidelines that need to be followed for all of the players for safely reasons! It is reassuring that these guidelines are in place, I have heard of other organizations that come out in full pads for the first practice.
1. CONDITIONING...

Every player needs to condition in only shorts, shirts, & cleats for at least 10 hours...so that means if you miss a practice you are a day behind. During conditioning they work on endurance, speed and drills. Above is Brendan is doing a wide receiver drill.

Colin doing high knees...look at those calves!!

and Brendan doing his high knees

The practice their stances

2. HELMETS & SHOULDER PADS...
After their 10 hours of conditioning is up...they go to helmets, shoulder pads and cleats

Colin do the bear crawl in an obstacle course drill

Brendan racing by for his 40 yard dash time....

3. FULL PADS...

And then FINALLY...they go to full gear...helmets, shoulder pads, pants, pads & cleats

Colin has a good chance at being the center this season and he is so excited...for those of you that don't know...the center snaps or gives the ball to the quarterback...a very important job!!

This is Brendan tackling one of his teammates to the ground! Another drill...he won BTW!

And here is Colin doing that same drill...it is very important to be the fastest and the lowest...keep your feet moving...


Pop Warner is very strict on age & weight, as you know!! They usually practice Monday-Friday for 2 weeks and then 3 days a week for 2 weeks and then it goes to their regular schedule of practice on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Because we have such an early game this season, we have 1 more week of practice Monday-Friday and then next week we drop to 3 times a week and then 2 times a week....it's never ending I tell ya!...But I ♥ it!

5 comments:

christy rose said...

Sounds like it is a good thing that you love it! My son, Josiah, does not play football, but he plays baseball ALOT! From April- October. It is a good thing that I love it too. Really I love him so I would love anything that he did. But I really do love to watch baseball. Have a wonderful season!

Eyeglasses & Endzones said...

Those boys have to practice in more hear than we do!!!

Love the uniform, our helmet is white..whats up with that?

Stacy said...

Boy the boys and you are really dedicated! They look great out there on the field. It's great that they work in stages or you just might have a heat stroke if you go out all padded up first.

Stephanie said...

Such cool pics! I've heard those around us that have said they just had their first day in pads and I always wondered what that meant. I'm glad you did that post because now I'm not so clueless :)

He & Me + 3 said...

Great pictures. Wow those boys have got to love that sport to practice so much and so hard. Way to go guys!