By: Vincent Aldridge
Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak hit, many football players needed a way to stay in shape for the season ahead.
They decided to start doing what is called a 7 on 7 practice, which was a student-led idea. They practiced at Ridgeview Middle School and Neighborhood Church with no set schedule but instead just loosely put together by players.
Kolby Howard, ’22 says, “there are no coaches there to keep [the players] on track.” This means that the players themselves led those practices, and many of the players agree that it all went well.
Their practice schedule consisted of stretches, running, route running, footwork drills, other small drills, and at the end of each practice, they would play a 7 on 7 game.
“You see the leadership in players when they come up with plans to get stuff done.”
Karson everett, ’22
Howard said, “different players… around the county have been putting together 7 on 7 tournaments and we have been playing in them. They are not school related.”
According to Howard, there were about 50 kids that would come out ranging from Freshmen to Seniors every weekend. Players came from all over, Tulare to Exeter to Porterville. Redwood players would make up about half that number.
Angel Perez, ’22 says, “You see the kids that are willing to put in work in the off-season we’re having.”
Redwood Football is ready to dominate whenever their season begins.
Vincent Aldridge
Vincent Aldridge ('22) is a senior, and this is his fourth year as embedded reporter for the Redwood Baseball team, and his first year as Sports editor for 1st Period. He has been in Journalism since his freshman year, and he wants to work for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the future. You can contact him by email with: vince.al8741@vusd.us
Tags: covid-19, football, practice, preparations, sports
Nice story Vincent! Pretty cool that football is continuing to train even with the circumstances.