Cougar Spring Training Takes Place Near Summer

The Piedmont Academy football team will usher in the defense of its 2010 state title next week with the start of spring practice.
Coach Rhett Farmer’s team will begin work Tuesday and continue through June 10. Practice starts with a weight training session each afternoon followed by an on-the-field workout from approximately 4:15-6 p.m.

“There will be a lot of teaching,” Farmer said. “The first day we will run some 40 times and agility tests and get them recorded and see what we are working with. The players will get to work with their position coaches. By the end of spring practice, we hope to be running a few plays.”
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With the Cougars holding spring practice later than most schools, workouts will not be full contact although Farmer noted many college and NFL teams don’t conduct those types of practices much anymore.

“We don’t want to have spring practice earlier because it could interfere with other sports,” Farmer said. “It doesn’t do much good to be out there without a third of your team. It helps this way because the players aren’t worried about taking finals or having school the next day. The coaches can also stay later after practice because school is out.”

After going undefeated last fall, the Cougars are starting over in some aspects.

“You have to crawl before you can walk,” said Farmer. “We don’t take it real fast in the spring. We will be very vanilla. We use this time to take a long look at personnel.”

Piedmont opens the 2011 season August 26 at home against Nathanael Greene.