As the high school academic year quickly approaches, student-athletes have been participating in early morning workouts and other drills over the last few weeks to prepare for the first official practice day of the fall sports season on August 1.
Those athletes spent the end of last week getting final instruction from coaches with the second of two “summer dead periods” coming up today through July 27.
“Rise and grind, it’s been rise and grind,” said first-year Laney Football Head Coach Aashad Yeoman. “That’s something the kids came up with over the summer and we’ve been putting in a lot of work each and every morning getting ready to put on those pads come early August.”
According to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), during the “summer dead period” no member school-sponsored activities may be organized by, conducted by, attended by or involve in any way NCSHAA coaches or member school staff members that involve students at NCHSAA member schools.
For most coaches, the “dead period” allows one last opportunity to spend time with family before the rigors of a high school season take center stage moving through the fall.
“For fall athletes and coaches, it’s the last chance to spend some quality time with families to balance work and family,” said Ashley Athletics Director Roy Turner. “We are better coaches, mentors, and role models if we become better people by spending time with our loved ones developing relationships.”
Laney Director of Athletics Fred Lynch shared the same sentiments.
“It is an opportunity athletes and their families to get that last vacation (especially fall sport athletes),” said Lynch. “I hope that my coaches will be attending the North Carolina Coaches Association clinic and really come together as a staff.”
There will be plenty of new faces when talking about football in the Mideastern Conference come week one of the regular season as four new coaches take over the programs at Ashley, Laney, South Brunswick and West Brunswick.
Yeoman takes over for Greg Ditz in Buctown after serving as the defensive coordinator for the last few years. Former assistant coach Mike Propst heads the Screaming Eagles football program after Tom Eanes announced his resignation.
In Brunswick County, Bob Hanna’s retirement was short-lived after spending the last two decades as head of the Irmo High School (South Carolina) football team and takes over the Trojans in Shallotte. South Brunswick High School named Daniel Finn as their new head coach at the end of January.
Heading into the first few weeks of August, check back for more on how the Mideastern Conference is shaping up on the gridiron.
