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Post by fullhouseo on May 24, 2010 8:21:46 GMT -6
We just got a turf field put in for my football team. The problem is that the high school is a half a mile away from the turf field, which is actually by the junior high, just down a .5 mile driveway from the HS. We have a large area at the high school where we could practice but the ground is really lumpy with divots everywhere. Do you recommend that we walk .5 mile to practice and .5 back afterward every day, or make the best of the field right next to us? I was also wondering if practicing on the field every day will take some of the awe that the kids will have playing on turff, and don't know if that is a plus or a minus?
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Post by Chris Clement on May 24, 2010 8:28:04 GMT -6
run there and call it your warm-up
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Post by leighty on May 24, 2010 8:39:14 GMT -6
I say walk. Worrying about potential injuries and cutting and lining the field closest to the school is too much of a headache.
As for the "awe," it's not going to win you any football games, so I don't know that the turf field losing its luster should be a consideration.
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nels85
Freshmen Member
Posts: 70
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Post by nels85 on May 24, 2010 9:06:35 GMT -6
i would work in the .5 mile run there and back as part of the conditioning. Maybe have each position to an indian run every no and again, to change things up and keep it interesting. or get a really long rope and on the jog there and back everyone has to keep hold of the rope, no matter how tired they are. Its a good team building/take care of your brothers type thing. Maybe time each position group, see how much time they can shave off over the course of the year, and make it a percentage reduction so the position groups can compete for the most improved time. Just some ideas, but the .50 should be no big deal.
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Post by fatkicker on May 24, 2010 10:02:40 GMT -6
half a mile doesn't sound like much, but when you have to haul everything back and forth every day, it will get old......
i like the idea of practicing as close to the locker/equipment room as possible.....
i guess if you have coaches that can go early and set up and fill coolers and on-site storage for equipment, it wouldn't be so bad....
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Post by brophy on May 24, 2010 10:23:27 GMT -6
The field turf is made to take abuse (less maintenance)
Being 6 - 8 min away from your facilities (walk) seems a little unnecessary (especially if you have any filming, training, etc staff)
What about inclement weather? Walking a 1/2 mile to a muddy field hardly seems worth it.
If you don't have to, I don't see the reason to make things harder than they are - you'd be robbing 15 - 20 mins out of your practices every day for no real legitimate reason
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Post by phantom on May 24, 2010 10:27:37 GMT -6
I'm with Brophy and Fatkicker. Nothing like getting caught in a lightning storm a half mile from home.
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Post by blb on May 24, 2010 10:47:29 GMT -6
Typical administration - instead of replacing the lumpy, divot-filled but close field, they put in a nice new one half mile away.
Didn't you (football coach) or at least AD have any input into decision? After all, you said it was put in for "my football team."
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Post by spartancoach on May 24, 2010 10:54:20 GMT -6
Doesn't sound like you really have a decision to make. Can't practice kids on an unsafe field, and using a lumpy field with divots is asking for injuires.
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Post by gdn56 on May 24, 2010 11:03:31 GMT -6
If the program can afford a turf field, I would think there would be some money to improve the field that's close to the school. That way, you are close to your facilities. You can always have the turf field for scrimmages, walk-throughs etc...but like Brophy said...walking down you will lose 15 minutes of productive practice time.
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Post by ajreaper on May 24, 2010 11:08:28 GMT -6
LOL, a new turf field and it's a half mile away so some wish to piss and moan? My 1st year as the HC we had about the same walk to our practice field and it was a piece of crap- I'd crawl .5 miles to practice on turf! If it's your home field for games there will be onsite storage so what you need for practice (dummies, cones, sleds, shields etc can be stored on site) will be close by. The biggest issue I see is athletic training services- water coolers, bottles and trainer availibility. Does your trainer have a cart? Beyond that use the dang turf field!
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Post by highball007 on May 24, 2010 11:11:22 GMT -6
Why can't the kids use the first 1/4 mile to jog get loosened up and the next 1/4 mile to do their dynamic warm ups. Hit the field ready to go. I would post something half way and coach the kids on what to do!
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Post by playsmart on May 24, 2010 11:14:07 GMT -6
Just another thought... Maybe have the home team locker room be the locker room they get dressed in. Build a shed to store all of the equipment needed during the season. Make the shed into a filming room for before or after practice. Make a room in the press box a coaches office or something like that.
But i also think the kids could run or walk there also.
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Post by coachguy83 on May 24, 2010 12:08:23 GMT -6
Our practice field is a good distance fro the school and it has never been a problem for us. We have a shed to store equipment on site, but irony of ironies it's on the opposite side of the facility from our practice field. We just take a golf cart over and use it to move the equipment.
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Post by coachwoodall on May 24, 2010 12:22:52 GMT -6
LOL, a new turf field and it's a half mile away so some wish to {censored} and moan? My 1st year as the HC we had about the same walk to our practice field and it was a piece of crap- I'd crawl .5 miles to practice on turf! If it's your home field for games there will be onsite storage so what you need for practice (dummies, cones, sleds, shields etc can be stored on site) will be close by. The biggest issue I see is athletic training services- water coolers, bottles and trainer availibility. Does your trainer have a cart? Beyond that use the dang turf field! That is what we had at my last stop -- up hill both ways too!! |
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Post by brophy on May 24, 2010 12:26:55 GMT -6
do you own a gator (4x2/4x6 transport)?
If you pull a hammy, twist an ankle, godforbidbreaksomething.....you're SOL.
If you have a choice, the 1/2 mile hike would be like herding cats....it seems like it would be inviting a headache of enforcement of all the things that could 'go wrong' on the way to/from the practice field.
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Post by wingtol on May 24, 2010 12:29:59 GMT -6
Can you get somebody to come in a and roll the field by the school? We had that done one year with a big ol' road construction roller and it really helped the field out.
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Post by phantom on May 24, 2010 12:35:43 GMT -6
do you own a gator (4x2/4x6 transport)? If you pull a hammy, twist an ankle, godforbidbreaksomething.....you're SOL. If you have a choice, the 1/2 mile hike would be like herding cats....it seems like it would be inviting a headache of enforcement of all the things that could 'go wrong' on the way to/from the practice field. Absolutely right. I think that all of the talk about using the walk as a warmup is wishful thinking. BTW, where did they practice last year? |
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Post by fullhouseo on May 24, 2010 12:54:48 GMT -6
The situation is that we are a brand new school, with only 9th graders right now, adding a class each year until we are 9-12. Last year the gym and locker rooms were still being built so we shared with the JH and used a field over there for practice and played all away games. The field is for "my football team" but was bought with part of the bond money that went to building the school and we are out of money, so putting money into the field nearby isn't an option. We wanted the stadium to be put next to the high school but it would have cost more than 1.5 million more than the $600,000 we had to get the field graded and ready for turf next to the high school so they put it in by the JH where there was already a track and drainage system in place. I like the idea of having someone roll the field, I'll have to look into that.
Right now we have a cart to carry an injured player and equipment back and forth.
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