Going the distance for speed, agility

By Jeremy Wise

Published: July 23, 2008

During the summer, many camps help athletes in just one sport.

Rarely do you see one that can help all sports.

In the shadow of Bates Memorial Stadium Wednesday, members of the Enterprise High School football coaching staff hosted a speed and agility camp that can do just that.

It is the first-ever EHS camp to focus just on speed and agility, according to assistant football coach and camp leader Justin Jones.

“We do this every week with our older kids (during football season), so we said, ‘Why can’t we start younger?’” Jones said.

While football coaches led the camp, Jones emphasized the camp will help all sports.

“It’s any sport across the board,” he said. “We’re teaching them the tricks of the trade.”

Enterprise High School head baseball coach Shawn Gilmer was in attendance as his son Sam was participating.

Gilmer said the camp will definitely help any kid who plays baseball.

“It helps to get in position, both infielders and outfielders, and it helps in running the bases,” he said.

Gilmer added techniques learned can help in the long run

“The first thing colleges look at is the (running) times,” he said.

The camp had seven different drills: running with parachutes, running with sleds, pro agility, NFL cone drill, ladder, bags, starts and form running, Jones said.

Some drills, such as form running and starts, worked on proper technique while running, while others like parachutes and sleds worked on resistance training and power.

The ladder drills, where players stepped in and out of ladder rungs, worked on quickness and agility.

Jones said unlike wight training, where children are encouraged not to perform until their bodies have developed some, children can start speed and agility training early.

“It will not hurt their bodies. It is something they can start when they can handle their bodies,” he said.

At the end of the camp, the players were timed in the 40-yard dash and measured for jump height, physical height and weight.

Children like Daniel Andrews, a quarterback for the Enterprise Junior High football team, attended the camp to improve in their sport of choice.

“I’m all football. I used to be slow. I want to see myself get stronger and faster so I can show out for the coaches,” he said.