What happend to these underachieving programs

[mop]

Mandatory lifting/training improves team morale and togetherness. In addition, it forces undisciplined players to improve their general fitness level. Remember, new training regimines produce position specific attributes. The days of power lifting only are over. Its all about creating explosive strength and power.

[mop]

One last point on MCD's 2011 program. I don't understand why Dom couldn't borrow a player from their great soccer program (Loyola had the best kicker in the League and he played on the Loyola soccer team) to kick last year? IMHO MCD would have won both of their CHC games if they had a kicker.

[eaglesinsider]

No mandatory lifting program? I am actually shocked to hear that. I think the comraderie of a football team is in what is done in the offseason specifically the weight room.

You have to remember that McDonogh is a small school. Kids can't play just one sport, they have to play 2 or 3 (3 is mandatory until junior year). With 225 boys in the school, and more sports sponsored than almost any other school in the state, kids are spread thin. The weight room is always open and there is a weight training specialist on staff if you do want to lift but you're not required to.

Also, I've never understood a mandatory lifting program. Every player is different, why do you give them all the same workout and expect them to all improve? I think if you do a weight program, the player and coach need to sit down and figure out what works for them, what they need to get better at, and what lifting schedule fits them. Every player needs an individualized weight program suited for them, not some generic sheet where everyone hops in the weight room and glorifies the guy who can bench 400, but has no functional strength at all.

The truth is that in order to keep enough kids to field a team at McDonogh, the laid back approach is needed. There are a lot of dedicated football players, but not enough to field a full team. I'd say about 1/2 the team wouldn't have played if it wasn't for Dom's unique approach to football. These kids just play to stay in shape and because Dom makes it fun. If you look at a McD roster if you are a lax fan, you will recognize a lot of very good lacrosse players on the bench/playing minimal roles on the football team. They are perfectly happy just hanging out and filling out the roster because practice is fun. They have also gotten a lot of soccer players coming over recently.

McDonogh practice is the most laid back thing you will ever see, kids are on first name terms with some of the younger coaches. Film breakdown is even more loose, Dom is a genuinely funny guy, and his running commentary has the kids falling out of their chairs. They may go full pads once a season and never hit full contact. The conditioning is very light, because you are expected to show up in shape. If you don't, that's your problem and it's next man up, but he's not going to punish the whole team for your not showing up in shape. Practices are short and efficient, if you work through everything in 90 mins, he's not going to keep you out there longer. McD is the only program in any sport, HS or college, where I actually looked forward to coming to practice.

[eaglesinsider]

One last point on MCD's 2011 program. I don't understand why Dom couldn't borrow a player from their great soccer program (Loyola had the best kicker in the League and he played on the Loyola soccer team) to kick last year? IMHO MCD would have won both of their CHC games if they had a kicker.

Steve Nichols (McD soccer coach) wouldn't have it. He is, for lack of a better work, reviled by other coaches and most of his own players. He is tolerated because he wins games and feeds players from his Casa Mia/Baltimore Bays team to McD. If that falls off, you won't see many tears shed when he is asked not to return. Their best player (Julian Griggs) walked off the team his junior year after an incident where Nichols got way out of hand. He pulls the "you wouldn't be in this school if it wasn't for me" card and is overly possessive "his" players. In the post above I talked about how McD had lots of 2/3 sport athletes. The one exception is the soccer program, they all play for Nichols's Bays team year round and can jeopardize their spot on the team if they play other sports.

[92 Card]

Mandatory lifting/training improves team morale and togetherness. In addition, it forces undisciplined players to improve their general fitness level. Remember, new training regimines produce position specific attributes. The days of power lifting only are over. Its all about creating explosive strength and power.

The MIAA does not allow "mandatory" lifting in the off season. It is usually strongly encouraged and organized by captains and an asst coach or two. I posted about one MIAA team pushing the envelope back in March with their organized activities, but that does not make it legal nor does it mean it is within the spirit of the rules.

[mop]

I'm talking about a summer training program only. Everyone knows smaller schools need athletes to play multiple sports hence no year round weight training. I still believe a captain led summer training program is one of the most important things a football team can do to prepare for the season. You would be hard pressed to find a top caliber program in the country that doesn't have one. Regarding the kicker, the "soccer only thing" is an anathma at MCD but will be over as soon as Club players aren't allowed to play for MCD.

[92 Card]

[QUOTE=mop;8042683]I'm talking about a summer training program only. Everyone knows smaller schools need athletes to play multiple sports hence no year round weight training. I still believe a captain led summer training program is one of the most important things a football team can do to prepare for the season. You would be hard pressed to find a top caliber program in the country that doesn't have one. Regarding the kicker, the "soccer only thing" is an anathma at MCD but will be over as soon as Club players aren't allowed to play for MCD.[/QUOTE

Yes, captains can and do lead summer activities. However, coaches cannot make summer lifting mandatory. Players are not technically required to show up until August, per MIAA rules. The bigger private schools are affected as well. Calvert Hall had just as many, if not more players playing lacrosse thru July last summer. Believe it or not, some kids have to work part time in the summer too.

[Outside Looking In]

[QUOTE=92 Card;8042791]

I'm talking about a summer training program only. Everyone knows smaller schools need athletes to play multiple sports hence no year round weight training. I still believe a captain led summer training program is one of the most important things a football team can do to prepare for the season. You would be hard pressed to find a top caliber program in the country that doesn't have one. Regarding the kicker, the "soccer only thing" is an anathma at MCD but will be over as soon as Club players aren't allowed to play for MCD.[/QUOTE

Yes, captains can and do lead summer activities. However, coaches cannot make summer lifting mandatory. Players are not technically required to show up until August, per MIAA rules. The bigger private schools are affected as well. Calvert Hall had just as many, if not more players playing lacrosse thru July last summer. Believe it or not, some kids have to work part time in the summer too.

I guess mandatory is the wrong word, technically no school can mandate a kid to do something. What I meant to say is a formal lifting program where the kids want to participate. I would not want kids off my radar as a coach doing their own thing and spending their summers at the beach.

[GREYHOUND ALUM]

[QUOTE=92 Card;8042791]

I'm talking about a summer training program only. Everyone knows smaller schools need athletes to play multiple sports hence no year round weight training. I still believe a captain led summer training program is one of the most important things a football team can do to prepare for the season. You would be hard pressed to find a top caliber program in the country that doesn't have one. Regarding the kicker, the "soccer only thing" is an anathma at MCD but will be over as soon as Club players aren't allowed to play for MCD.[/QUOTE

Yes, captains can and do lead summer activities. However, coaches cannot make summer lifting mandatory. Players are not technically required to show up until August, per MIAA rules. The bigger private schools are affected as well. Calvert Hall had just as many, if not more players playing lacrosse thru July last summer. Believe it or not, some kids have to work part time in the summer too.

Although Gilman doesn't have "mandatory" lifting they are definitely put on a program. And the kids are expected to abide by it. Gilman also has 2 strength coaches and a team personal trainer. The funny part is, the weight room is pretty horrible. Especially for a school and program with the money at its disposal. I'm assuming that will change in the near future.

[92 Card]

[QUOTE=Outside Looking In;8042831]

I guess mandatory is the wrong word, technically no school can mandate a kid to do something. What I meant to say is a formal lifting program where the kids want to participate. I would not want kids off my radar as a coach doing their own thing and spending their summers at the beach.

I fully understand and agree with your point of view. Players are held accountable to their teammates captains and coaches more than ever. If a young man is off the radar and lounging for the summer, he will not gain the favor of many teammates who were busting their tails all summer. Letting your coaches down is bad, but not making a commitment to your teammates/ classmates is worse. Especially in a league like the MIAA. Off the radar = no playing time. I was simply saying it can't technically be mandatory. It's also a good bet that a player is not going to play much, if at all if they are not willing to put in the same amount of work as his teammates and consistently off the radar. Work, summer lacrosse, ect not withstanding. Every MIAA A coach has a regiment set up. If a young man can't follow the I think who shows up and who doesn't says alot about that player's commitment. Calvert Hall has a handful of weight rooms within Russo Stadium and kids are in there all year long.

[50defense]

Excellent points about off season weight training. One of the most important aspects of these programs is team building. Working together and being together during the off season builds teamwork and friendships. A good weights program is designed to meet the needs of individual players and has a variety of exercises. Howard has an excellent program that runs year round. That is one of the reasons they have not had a losing season in six years after being a doormat for a while.
I must disagree with an early post about power lifting. Powerlifting IS explosive lifting... one in the same. An explosive bench press is no where near as important as a hang clean or snatch.
McD soccer is just an example of soccer culture in general. Some club soccer teams are not allowing their players to play on the high school team. It is a culture thing different from football and basketball

[harcohorns]

Chris Anderson (WVU 247) just recently did an article on ECA's training.. plenty of pics of what they do

http://westvirginia.247sports.com/Ar...Training-75254

[Sizzle]

Chris Anderson (WVU 247) just recently did an article on ECA's training.. plenty of pics of what they do

http://westvirginia.247sports.com/Ar...Training-75254

The one kid looks out of place with white shirt and red shoes. They must accept walk-ins.

Good article.

[harcohorns]

The one kid looks out of place with white shirt and red shoes. They must accept walk-ins.

Good article.

haha funny... whats that supposed to mean "out of place"?

[OriginalKnight]

Not sure you can say Arundel is under achieving.

Old Mill has won the 4A championship 2 out of the last three years. That is a major accomplishment. Only three other AA county teams have won the state championship.

Arundel and Old Mill are 2-2 during the regular season since 2008

So Old Mill is not dominating Arundel either.

[bigcountry]

The one kid looks out of place with white shirt and red shoes. They must accept walk-ins.

Good article.

Look real organized with plenty of coaches...but of course this is across the state line. ECA got good players - now lets see them win games and live up to all hype