Burnet football begins final weeks of strength and conditioning

CAPTION: Coy Sikes performs seated dumbbell shoulder presses as Pablo Lopez Carter serves as the spotter. Staff photos by Jennifer Fierro

The Burnet Consolidated Independent School District football program has only a few days left of summer strength and conditioning and head coach Ben Speer indicated the Bulldogs are taking advantage of every minute.

Players and coaches returned July 6 after taking a week off June 29-July 3.

“We talked to some on vacation and several playing baseball this year,” Speer said. “You’re coming back, working hard, getting excited. I’m starting to really see some things just click for the seniors. There’s only about three weeks left of the workouts. We just put into perspective of having this many days left. This is your last opportunity, your last go-around to do these things and make sure we’re getting everybody here.”

He noted attendance on July 6 was encouraging for him as he saw more athletes make their way to campus to get ready for what’s ahead.

“You start seeing more and more kids,” the coach said. “Their summers are slowing down. Church camps are wrapping up. And then vacations are usually already done by that second week in July, so then you really start seeing your numbers boost.”

Speer noted the freshmen increased by more than 20 in attendance last week, another positive sign for this time of year.

“Those guys have been averaging pretty well, 15 or so,” he said. “You have about five or 10 who’ve been here this whole time. Now you’re starting to see more and more come in. So that’s exciting. They’re back in town, and they’re coming up here.”

Speer pointed out the work that’s done in July foreshadows so much of what’s coming when the high school players begin fall training camp Aug. 3. The last day of summer strength and conditioning is July 20. Then the seniors will lead the workouts July 27-30.

“July really does speed into August, besides it being the next month,” he said. “The conditioning part of it, acclimation to the heat – you want to do that. Us having that (Student Activity Center) in transition time, we always use the turf in there for speed and agility stuff because it’s such a quick transition. We don’t have any down time and go straight from the weight room. And when it gets into July, we take them outside. They do some agility stuff (on the indoor facility) turf and then they do some sprints outside. You get them outside, get them in the sun because you don’t know how or what these kids necessarily are doing outside of workouts. They may be going home and just crashing or being inside and they have to get outside and get a little bit acclimated with the heat. That’s good for them. It’s good for them to get a little sunshine.”

CAPTION: Vincent Vorn (left) and Hunter Edwards are performing back extensions.