Well, summer is finally here!!! Hope you are all enjoying your vacation thus far. Remember that "2 a-days" start on Tuesday, Aug. 5th and plan your summer accordingly. It is very important that your son make all of these practices. We know that it makes for a shorter summer, but it is for the good of the team!
Also, note the football schedule is posted on the website.
Make sure that your sons are getting to the weight room to become members of the 40/40 club. Lifting, running and total workouts are posted in the weight room so that your son can check his totals.
Many of you have asked about the 40/40 club. Please read below for clarification from our head varsity coach, Joe Thompson. Any and all questions should be directed to Coach Thompson.
"At a staff meeting in Jan. of this year, one of the topics of concern was the poor attendance at out workouts over the last two off-seasons. This created several related problems.First, we were underprepared physically to compete against the teams on our schedule. As a result, practice and preparation time had to be increased in order to give players the best opportunity to succeed. Second, the coaches were spending a large amount of time in the off-season concentrating on the players that were not attending. Consequently, those that were attending were not getting 100% of the attention they deserved. As a result of the meeting we concluded that we were not adequately rewarding the things we valued most in our program, most notably the drive of the student-athlete to work year-round to develop himself as an athlete and a football player-and to develop the strong interpersonal relationships with teammates and coaches (read chemistry) that only comes from spending time in an athletic setting together. The staff decided on two major changes to our off-season philosophy as a means to address the off-season concern.
First, we changed the format of our workout program. We created a four-day schedule with shorter, more intense workouts. We brought in Explosive Performance (EP) to analyze our equipment and our goals for personal strength development. The program that we created is sound and much more productive, in terms of energy spent on actually developing strength and agility and in terms of efficiency of the time spent in the weight room.
Secondly, (and this relates directly to the 40/40 club), we concluded there were a total of 108 workout days between Feb. 1 and Aug. 1. Working with that number, we decided that roughly 80% attendance during that time span would be a great goal for players to meet. Additionally, we value the student athlete participating in multiple sports-so the staff rewarded those athletes by counting days towards the workout goals. To that end--players participating in winter sports were given 8 days to apply towards their workout totals in any manner they choose. Spring sports athletes were given 20 days, again to apply in the manner they choose. Finally, over the summer, any player that is out of town--attending an athletic camp (basketball, football, wrestling, etc. ) during a night of a scheduled workout-they will receive credit for that lifting and running session. Additionally, the rising freshmen will be working out on Tues. and Thurs. evenings. Any player wishing to make up sessions to meet the 40/40 goal will be welcome to attend those workouts-as long as they prearrange it with the coaches.
The purpose of the 40/40 club was to address the attendance issues discussed in January. If a majority has participated in 40 lifts and 40 conditioning programs, we would be more competitive against our schedule and the staff would be free to focus on working with the players that were attending. To this end, the program has been a huge success. We recognize that some players that are truly connected to the program will not be able to commit to attend 80 total workouts. We also recognize that there are priorities in life that are greater than football. All of that is okay. Attendance in this off-season training program is never mandatory, and will not be a determinant of making the team. We look forward to a great summer, building to a championship regular season. Please make sure players attend all workouts possible to help us meet individual development goals, as well as team chemistry goals as we work towards a great fall.
Any questions regarding this are welcomed. Please contact me (Coach Thompson) at any time by email (Joe.Thompson@fcps.edu) or phone (703-319-2700) for further discussion."
Rising Freshman--Tues. and Thurs. 5-7 pm (lifting session and conditioning session)
All others--Mon. and Wed. 5-7 pm (lifting session and conditioning session)
If your JV or Varsity player wished to make up or increase his totals by working out with the Freshman team, he is welcome to do so. He must, however, coordinate this with Coach Fowler prior to the workout.
Remember that these workouts count for a total of 2....one for lifting and one for running
JULY 2008
Tuesday, July 29 - Senior Equipment Distributed
Thursday, July 31 - Sophomore and Junior Equipment Distributed
Thursday and Friday, July 31 and Aug. 1 - TOP 22 testing (all but rising freshman)
AUGUST 2008
Friday, August 1 - Freshman Equipment Distributed
Tuesday, August 5 - Practice BEGINS!!!
Thursday, August 7 - Spirit Packs Sales Begin
Monday, August 11 - Rules clinic for all athletes-5:30 pm in the main gym
Varsity Intrasquad scrimmage-7:15 pm (parents are welcomed to watch)
Wednesday, August 13 - Football Pledge Ceremony for Parents and all Football Players. Time TBA.
Attendance by a player and at least one parent is mandatory to play football. Varsity Intrasquad scrimmage to follow.
Tuesday, August 19 - Fall Sports Meeting for Parents, Q and A to follow with Coach Thompson
For all football families...bring your questions!
SEPTEMBER 2008
Friday, September 5 - first home game against Annadale
(Tailgate Party to be held prior to game to welcome new football and cheerleading families- details to follow)
ATHLETIC BOOSTERS
INFORMATION FOR BOOSTER PASSES-EARLY DISCOUNT
The 2008-2009 membership and sponsorship forms are attached. They are also available at www.oaktonathletics.org. Early bird special for membership is through Septebmer 5th. Sponsorships should be in by mid-August if you want to be listed in the football program.
If you mail in your membership form, you may pick up passes on the following dates:
Aug. 13th by the weight room 7:15 a.m. - 8 a.m. when you drop off for football team pix
Aug. 15th 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the gate to the Cougar Path for the varsity football scrimmage
Aug. 19th 6:30-7:30 at the fall sports parents meeting
Aug. 27th, time TBA at Student Packet PickUp and before the Freshman/JV football scrimmages.
Sept. 5th 6:30-8:00 at the first home football game vs. Annandale.
Memberships will also be sold at the above times.
Andrea Creighton could use help with pass pick-up. If you can volunteer for a few hours, please email her at creightonx6@verizon.net.
