Iola youth football players got a jump on the fall sports season during their first day of practice Thursday.
With Iola Middle School and Iola High School not scheduled to practice until Monday, the youth Mustangs were the first to get on the gridiron in an official practice setting and as fifth- and sixth- grade teams prepare for an Aug. 30 jamboree in Fort Scott.
“For many players, they haven’t had this experience yet,” said Iola Youth coach Brandon Westerman. “It’s teaching them to work hard and push through it. We’re back and ready to work.”
With temperatures reaching well into the 90s, coaches kept a close eye on players’ while guiding many through their first tackle football practice.
Westerman said getting his players in football shape before the jamboree is important but without proper hydration, conditioning can be counterproductive.
“Get them conditioned. Get them working. Get them running hard, but definitely get them a lot of water,” Westerman said. “It’s hot. Safety is a big thing for us, so as long as they’re working hard, we don’t mind giving them extra water breaks. We’re pushing them to get through the fourth quarter once we start playing.”
During Thursday’s practice, third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade players learned early fundamentals. In the coming days, coaches plan to implement their playbook, which Westerman said features 16 plays — eight on the right side of the field and eight on the left.
“If they can figure it out going to the right, then they can figure it out going to the left,” Westerman said. “It’s easy to memorize. It won’t be too overwhelming for them.”
For Iola Youth coaches, the sky is the limit for their athletes.
Considering foundational lessons learned at the youth level are often carried over into college and professional football, the lessons learned Thursday may play a role in a nationally televised contest a decade or so from now.
“We’re just trying to set a great foundation for them,” Youth coach Levi Ashmore said. “We’re teaching them what hard work is. We’re teaching what accountability is and how to be a good teammate.
“There are a lot of NFL players out there today who would attribute their success to a lot of the things they learned as youths. We’re trying to teach them the right things that translate as they go.”
