Deer Park High School - Deer Yearbook (Deer Park, TX)

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Spring affords previews to upcoming grid season To athletes involved in different sports, off-season training means a variety of things. To the basketball player, it means off season-basketball training. To the baseball player, it means the season itself, to the tennis player, it means a heavy tournament schedule. But to the football player, it means long hours of conditioning, running and calisthenics which culminate in the traditional spring game. Spring training and the spring game serve a dual purpose. First, it affords the coaches a preview of what they can expect from next year's team. They can decide who they can depend on for what. They can introduce new plays, new strategies and formations. For the aspiring player, it offers an opportunity to prove himself before the coaches and his teammates. The game itself offers a chance for the coaches to view how the entire machinery works and a final proving ground for the players. A valuable aid to both players and coaches, the spring game serves its purpose. The defensive play was good, Coach Gary Berry, head football coach, said. The players are going to be in good shape and the situation looks very encour- aging for next year. A. Practicing punt returns merits a block of practice time in each workout. In this drill, the squad makes bone crushing contact. B. Punt specialist Ronnie Thomas practices during spring training. The importance of a punt to the defense can be compared to scoring by the offense. C. Sophomore Joel Wilson, a prospective quarterback, breaks and looks for an open target. Wilson is one of several players vying for positions on the team. D. Guard Ed Simpson displays the blocking form needed to be a proficient blocker. This is another agility drill performed by the squad. E. Another exercise to loosen stiff muscles is picking grass. In this exercise, so named because of its resemblance to pick- ing grass, hamstring muscles absorb the full weight of the torso. F. Coach Frank Orsak directs agility drills. Depending on which side of the football he slaps, the players must move in that direction. G. Sophomore Kenneth Killen lends a helping hand to sidelined teammate Steve Wood in the annual spring game. H. The bicycle kick is an exercise designed to stretch and loosen lower back muscles. Done properly, it aids players in get- ting up after a fall. I. Sophomore Joel Wilson makes ready to receive the snap from cen- ter Bill Ervin, a junior. The snap must work like machinery to lessen the possibility ofa turnover. l 113' ' SPRING GAME I PAGE 229