MP football working on timing and technique during spring

When the temperature starts to bump 100 degrees, not many people are thinking about football.

Unless, of course, they're high school football players.

Mountain Pointe tries to keep that kind of enthusiasm going through the spring with its annual spring football practice.

"The main thing is to keep the kids excited and thinking about the sport of football," Mountain Pointe football coach Phil Abbadessa said as the Pride wrapped up three weeks of drills in shorts and T-shirts this week.

"You can get a lot done in spring football without a lot of equipment," Abbadessa added. "The only things we had were footballs and kicking tees."

Abbadessa doesn't use the spring practice to pick his starters for next fall. Some potential players, like track and field long and triple jumper Will Claye, are still coming off spring sports seasons that ended with state championships last weekend. Claye is also a wide receiver for the Pride.

"We're evaluating kids all the time," Abbadessa said, "but we still give them a shot on August. We know the guys who look good in fundamentals and drills but you really don't know until you put on the full pads and make contact."

Officially, Abbadessa explained, everyone has to start all over again in the fall and make the team through tryouts.

Instead, the Pride have been working on timing and technique.

"This gives us a chance to run some offensive plays, some defensive schemes and get the timing down," Abbadessa said. "It gives me an opportunity as a coach to work with all of the kids in the program and get to know the sophomores."

The Pride had a 6-4 winning season last year and had a three-game winning streak early in the season, but missed the 16-team state playoffs by one spot.

"We know the guys. The attitude has been great and the kids are excited about high school football," Abbadessa said. "We had 112 kids out here at one time and our junior varsity was solid last year. We're excited about that, too."

The Pride held their traditional team and booster club barbecue after the final practice last night and will be taking final exams next week.

"We're trying to close out the school year on a positive note academically and athletically," Abbadessa added.

But football doesn't come to a halt next week. Players will be involved during the summer in weight training, passing camps and seven-on-seven leagues.

Players and coaches did get a break in the weather this spring.

"The weather has been great," Abbadessa said. "In 30 years of coaching this is the coolest spring I can remember."