Nipissing Wild players work on tackling techniques on Saturday afternoon at West Ferris. PHOTO BY TOMMY WONG.
It may still feel like winter out there, but the Nipissing Wild football team has already started their preparation for their spring/summer season.
The West Ferris high school gymnasium was filled with determined athletes who had every intention to set a good impression for the coaching staff. This was the third straight tryout/practice the Wild had since Thursday.
The first two practices were on the field at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex and the last one was in the gym at West Ferris Secondary School.
Nipissing Wild Head Coach Brian Samson was happy with what he saw during the past few days.
“Our message to the guys was to get to know each other and there was lots of great effort, “ said Coach Samson during warm ups.
“To act like a champion, you need to practise like a champion. We want to start that mentality right from day one.”
The Wild finished with a 3-5 record the previous season and they want to improve on that record. Coach Samson noted that the team will need to improve not on a certain area but all around as a team.
“We were a good team last year,” admitted Coach Samson.
“We ran the ball quite effectively. So this year, we're looking to get our passing game going as well with our two young quarterbacks. We're also turning a new leaf with a new DC (defensive coordinator) so we're looking for some steady play by them.”
Coach Samson noted that he want's to finish the season with at least a .500 record and make the post season. Wins are hard to come by in the 12 team OFC Junior Varsity league, but the Wild is up for the task. Recently, Evan Lechlitner and Lex Brazeau committed York University and will be trying out for the Lions this fall.
But for now, their veteran presence will be depended upon to help out a young Wild team. Coach Samson stated that he needs them be coaches on the field and to be the emotional leaders on the sidelines during games as well.
One thing about Coach Samson is he does not mess around. The first thing I noticed was how much respect the coaching staff and the athletes had for him. When it was his turn to talk, the room was silent and all eyes were on him. To have 30 plus testosterone filled teenagers respect you and listen to you, that is a daunting task. But Brian is the man for the job.
Coach Samson is a focused guy too, and I could tell immediately. While he was talking to me during the warm ups, I noticed he was bothered by something. I thought it was something I had asked, but then he proceeded to yell “fast feet please.” and he apologized immediately. But hey, why should he apologize? I'm the one who's taking up his time during his practise. And you can't blame a guy for being so focused on the task at hand.
From all that I've said, you might think of him as an “old-school” type of coach but, he's really not.
At least not in a negative sense. Believe it or not, there are still coaches out there who don't understand the seriousness of concussions and will tell their players to “suck it up.” And that kind of mentality can be dangerous considering the fact that some teenagers will do whatever it takes to impress their coach. After talking to Brian though, he definitely knows the seriousness of head injuries and he practices what he preaches.
After our conversation he went back to his duties and began setting up drills. Some might wonder what can be done during an indoor practice considering football's played outside, but you might be surprised. The Wild was lined up in single file lines stretched out across the gym and they worked on tackling techniques. And one of the best ways to prevent injuries is practicing how to tackle.
The coaches had drills set up which helped the team with their basic techniques. Although the seasons still almost a month away, the Nipissing Wild football team are on the right track. They are working on the fundamentals and that's what wins you games. Their first game and regular season home opener will be on May 24th at the Steve Omischl Sports Complex. For the full schedule you can visit their site at http://nipissingwild.wix.com/nipissingwild
