ROCKINGHAM — Now that summer workouts have begun, Richmond Senior football is in for the long haul.
Players and coaches are scheduled to take the practice fields every Monday, Wednesday and Friday over the next month and half — excluding two mandatory dead periods — until the season officially begins at the very end of July.
The Raiders will compete in a number of 7-on-7 competitions on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer. Their only two home competitions will be against Cape Fear (June 29) and Marlboro County (July 11).
“This summer could be great for us. We could learn a lot of stuff and really be working our way towards being ready at the beginning of the season. But if they’re not committed, we could be starting off August still going over things we’ve had time to do,” head coach Bryan Till said. “So their commitment is going to be huge.”
The first week of summer workouts has been, and will continue to be, different from what the schedule reads due to the team giving most of its attention to the weight room. Richmond held a couple of morning lifts the first two days, and did so again Wednesday before heading to Raleigh for a mid-day camp at N.C. State on Friday.
According to Till, 150 kids were split evenly between two sessions on Tuesday. There will be a third session added soon, where freshmen will hit the weight room at the Ninth-Grade Academy in order to get “a little more individual time.”
The first-year head coach, who says he’s expecting about 180 kids to participate throughout the summer, understands that having those kind of participation numbers won’t mean much if the players can’t get the right amount of time and work in.
“I think the enthusiasm is there, but we’ve got to continue to find ways to do what’s best for these kids’ development. And I think we’re going to continue to adjust so that we can do just that,” Till explained.
Richmond will get into its football-related activities starting next week. The younger guys are expected to work more with their position coaches, while the older players will be focusing on new schemes.
After three straight weeks of summer practice, the Raiders will run into the first of the state’s two mandatory dead periods (July 3-7). The second idle week begins Monday, July 17 and ends Friday, July 21.
Although there can’t be any coach-led activities during those times, Till says there’s no rule that says players can’t come together and “get some running in.” He plans on talking to the rising seniors and encouraging them to show their dedication during a time that most would take off.
“If we really want to put the ring on our fingers at the end of the year, it can’t just be something we talk about. It’s got to be something we commit to,” Till said. “That’s the message we want to get across. Mentally and physically commit to the process.”
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The Richmond Senior football team began its summer workouts Monday morning. Aside from the two mandatory dead periods next month, the Raiders are expected to hit the practice fields three days a week until the season officially starts Monday, July 31.