Local Coaches Preparing For Student Athletes…And Football
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
SAN ANTONIO – With schools set to start within the next few weeks, The Messenger usually visits with our local school athletic directors and football coaches to see what the upcoming season will look like as the kids return to hit the books and the fields. The coaches all asked we do the interviews next week, as they are attending the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) 92nd annual Coaching School and Convention in San Antonio.
The three-day annual conference is touted as the most comprehensive athletics conference in the state of Texas, drawing thousands of coaches to sessions covering girls and boys sports, rules meetings, health and safety, as well as general athletic administration.
This, after all, being Texas, high school football plays a big role at the conference, but there are also sessions on baseball, softball, basketball and many other sports such as tennis and aquatics. Organizers make time for development of junior high student athletes and include special sessions for female coaches and best practices for administering a high school athletic department – some of which include many moving parts and dozens of kids.
First-year coaches can receive their University Interscholastic League (UIL) Coach’s Certificate and coaches must pass tests on their familiarity with UIL rules periodically during their career, to make sure they keep up with rules updates.
Among the attendees, Crockett ISD Athletic Director Jody Jordan, whose Bulldogs will start their season Friday, Aug. 16 with an away scrimmage against Woodville at 6 p.m. Their first official game will be Friday, Aug. 30 at home, against Caldwell, which will also be senior appreciation night. The Bulldogs had a rebuilding year last season, with Jordan putting his stamp on the coaches and players, leading to what should be an exciting season as the kids have had time to absorb the new program. The district will hold their “Meet the Bulldogs” event Thursday, Aug. 8 at the Crockett High School gym at 7 p.m.
Lovelady ISD’s Athletic Director Will Kirchhoff (Coach K) also checked in from the conference. His Lions are always playoff contenders and fierce competitors, backed by their dedicated fans, who travel far and wide to support the kids. The Lions’ first game will be a scrimmage Friday, Aug. 16 at Trinity, with a date yet to be set. Their first regular match up will come Friday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Elkhart. “Meet the Lions,” where locals can get to know the student athletes, will be held Monday, Aug. 12 at 6:15 p.m. at the Lovelady High School gym.
The Grapeland Sandies and Athletic Director Jordan Wood will also debut their newest squad and tactics as they put their new field to good use, along with new track and other improvements to the field. The Sandies start their season Friday, Aug. 16 at home against Chilton. This will also be the celebration of “Meet the Sandies.” Friday, Aug. 23 will see the Sandies travel to face Price Cayuga, with an exact time still to be set.
While the stands will be packed for all of the local games (and many away ones, too) there will be one game well-attended by many residents. Lovelady will take on their fellow Houston-county rivals Grapeland Sandies Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at Grapeland.
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
