West Virginia high school sports programs are taking advantage of the summer by competing in shootouts, team camps and other activities.
In the past, the three-week period typically began in early June. This period of time was when coaches were allowed to work hands-on with their team during the summer.
Thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s no longer in existence due to the WVSSAC terminating the three-week period. It instead has given statewide coaches 32 flex days to use at their disposal.
Many coaches of non-fall sports use most of these flex days during the summer, have some left over and use those remaining ones before their sports season begins.
òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a better situation simply because it doesnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t force the athlete to choose between doing one sport over another,òòò½ÊÓƵ Riverside girls basketball coach John Frisby said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIt allows the athlete to also get a break from having to do multiple sports in the same day with proper coordination of coaches.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Frisby also appreciates giving athletes more recovery time.
òòò½ÊÓƵœRecovery is huge, both physically and mentally,òòò½ÊÓƵ Frisby said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThe athlete has more time to process and recover, versus a constant three-week overload of inflammation and physical activity. This is especially beneficial to the young class coming into the sport and school.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Many schools statewide have athletes who participate in multiple sports.
So, during the three-week period, as Frisby alluded to, those athletes often had to practice multiple sports in one day.
Missy Smith, the softball coach at Herbert Hoover and volleyball bench boss at George Washington, appreciates the flexibility that has now been given to her athletes.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThe flexibility is really helpful,òòò½ÊÓƵ Smith said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIt allows us to schedule the gym and the girls can plan around that schedule. It also allows us to work with other coaches if there are conflicts for the players that play multiple sports. There is much less overlap.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Once a sports season is over, coaches are typically eager to build off their previous success and begin preparing for the next season.
In West Virginia, one gridiron season ends in December after the state finals, and the next starts the following August.
Thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a little under nine months of football coaches working with their team.
Hurricane and Herbert Hoover went through spring drills and finished that session with a spring game, similar to what colleges do.
Redskins coach Donnie Mays enjoys having freedom in the spring to work with his team because it allows colleges to check out his players.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe used our flex days in May like how colleges use April for spring practice,òòò½ÊÓƵ Mays said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThe purpose, of course, was to improve ourselves, but the month of May allowed colleges and universities to visit our campus and watch us practice.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe used to pack up kids and travel to universities, but, doing it this way, they come to us and itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s free.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Football and soccer are among five sports in West Virginia whose preseason starts on Aug. 5.
The Charleston Catholic Irish girls are looking to claim their sixth straight Class AA/A soccer title.
The Irish completed a 20-1-2 season last year with a 1-0 victory over Philip Barbour in the title game.
Charleston Catholic coach Amy Mullen looks for her team to capitalize on opportunities during the summer to get ready for the next state title push.
òòò½ÊÓƵœ(The flex days) give you a picture of what kind of fitness level that they are in at that time,òòò½ÊÓƵ Mullen said. òòò½ÊÓƵœYou keep going and stay fit. It does give you a picture of whoòòò½ÊÓƵ™s been doing stuff and what you need to do to be ready for the first week of preseason.òòò½ÊÓƵ