You learn so much about a team by watching them at practice. However, this is a luxury that isn’t always afforded because coaches are so afraid that someone will post something they see on social media.
The Hamline University football coaches and players allowed me to watch them practice for a couple days in August and sit in on team and position meetings. This is my third year doing this. One of those days the Frogtown Youth Football team was also in attendance.
“We just want them to see how coaches interact with kids, how the kids respond to the coaching, their hustle, their work ethic. Stuff like that is really important,” explained Frogtown Coach/President Coach Dave, who said nearly 100 kids from age seven to 14 participates in the program.
“I’ve been with Frogtown for 27 years, and I’ve been a director and president for the last 12 to 13,” Dave said proudly.
Assistant Coach Josiah Walker spent time after a practice with a player. He said oftentimes that is when he does his best coaching.
“With individual conversations with each player, they let you know what they need for that moment, or the mistake they have made. During practices, there’s a lot of noise with everyone screaming and communicating.”
Preseason football practices can be brutal. The Hamline team uses the morning before it gets too hot to really get the necessary preparation in, then uses the late afternoons and early evenings for team walkthrough and other activities.
“A high school player to now a college player…it’s the real big adjustment,” said freshman Amere Warren from Minneapolis.
Senior Jevon Jones from Woodbury recalls his freshman days: “When I came in as a freshman, I really was excited to be here and just gave my best effort. My transition was a little different [because] I had an older brother here and that was kind of helpful.”
“I feel much better than when I was a freshman knowledge-wise on the football field,” added junior Elijah Jamison from Denver. “I feel like I got better from freshman year to now. I think I’m more focused.”
“I’m gonna have to make a plan” such as managing and balancing life now as a full-time college student athlete, predicted Warren.
Jones, who was recovering from an injury, will be a student assistant coach this season. “I’m just happy for the opportunity to teach my linebackers,” said the St. Agnes graduate.
“Our journey will be long, but our guys are battle tested,” noted Head Coach Chip Taylor. “They have worked so hard since January.
“We need to play as hard as we can in every game for 4-6 seconds of play,” he pointed out. “We need to be right where the ball is in play.
“I’m looking forward to watching our young men work through the diversity that’s going to come our way this fall,” Taylor pointed out. “We hope to ignite the student body and the community with our play this year.”
Special thanks to Coach Chip Taylor, his coaching staff and the Hamline football players for their cooperation and consideration.