desoto High School Class of 1999 Reunion

Sign-up and register for the reunion using the link below: www.123signup.com • Can I pay with my debit card/credit card? Of course, please go to the following site, www.123signup.com to register and pay for the reunion using a credit card. • What is the Reunion Weekend schedule? Friday, October 23, 7:30 pm Eagles Football vs. Mesquite at Eagle Stadium (Homecoming Game) 9:30 pm - Post Game Social (Tentative Location: Jazzys) Saturday, October 24, 7:00 pm Official Class Reunion Banquet at the Westin City Center Hotel in Downtown Dallas • Is the Reunion really going to be nice? Are we going to be fed? Yes, here is a picture of the room we have reserved at the Westin (Windows Rooftop Ballroom). www.starwoodhotels.com The banquet is from 7:00 pm -12:00 am so we will feed you. We have not finalized the menu (we want to taste the food first), but we will have food stations and are thinking about the following: Fruit Station, Cheese Station, Pasta Station, Crab Cakes with Spicy Lemon Mustard Sauce, Coconut Crusted Chicken with Honey Mustard Dip, Slow Roasted Black Angus Prime Rib of Beef Bordelaise Sauce and Scallop Stuffed Salmon Filet Baked in Brioche Dough with Dill and Lemon Essence. • Are alcoholic drinks going to be available? Yes, a limited number of drink tickets will be distributed to registrants, and there will also be a cash bar, so alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available. • Why is the Reunion so expensive, I thought the US was in a recession? Please ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEnlLGoDxsU&hl=en

Middle School Football Training, Drills, Running and Much More to Keep Busy

Running Drills: A Way of Life

If you have more energy at the fourth quarter then your opponent then you have won, and the best way to get endurance are running drills. Running drills will help you gain stamina so that you will be able to play to your full extent throughout the game. Teams, or individuals, that do not complain throughout the running drills will be better off and better prepared for a game. Whether you are tired, exhausted, and ready to throw up, if you keep running your added strength will help you win games. Running has a final help to your team, and that is learning how to push beyond your limits, you will be surprised how often that happens in football, and in life

Some fundamentals of ball security

One of the fundamental aspects of running with a football is ball security. Nothing is worse for your offensive team then turning it over carelessly to the other team in a fumble. There are four points to protecting the football. The first point is the claw, meaning that your fingers are wrapped over the tip of the football. The second point is making sure that your forearm is wrapped tightly on the outer rim of the football. The third point is securing the other point of the football with your bicep making sure that it is right up against it. Last point is to hold the back of the football right up against the ribcage and as you run keep it high and tight. Practice holding the football and having defensive players try and knock out the football by any means possible. As your ball carrying continues to improve you will insure less turnovers and greater success on the field.

Water on and off the field

Dehydration should never appear on the football field if both the players and coaches have good habits. Every player should have a water bottle close so that they can take quick water breaks or at least a swallow here and there. Water should never be used as a motivational or reward type basis. When players are hydrated and energized they will practice harder and learn more.

Receivers: Ball Security Drill

Catching the football properly and effectively is fundamental to a strong offense. There are three steps of a great catch: First, place your hands in front of you with your palms open and thumbs out forming an open triangle for the football. Second, keep your eyes on the ball through the entire catch. Third, secure the ball tight and high against your ribs, forearm, and biceps. Many receivers can get into a bad habit of looking away from the ball before it is stored away properly. Taking your eye off the ball increases incomplete passes, fumbles, and turnovers. To prevent this, have two receivers throw to each other and as they catch it have them slow down the motion so that they pause at each catch, follow through and tuck.

Practicing Drills and Conditioning Within Middle School Football

Conditioning: The five dot drill

Strength and reaction time is what makes a great football athlete. The intent of this drill is to increase accuracy, timing, and speed. The drill set up is a mat or place on the field with 5 dots about a foot away from each other forming an X shape, exactly in the same shape as you would see diamonds arranged on a number five card in a poker deck.

The player will start by placing a foot on the back two dots and then jumps together to the middle dot and then out separating his legs to the outer dots, much like you would see in hop scotch. Next the player will jump touching each dot with on leg only, and then switch using the other leg. Then continue around the dots with both legs together. The end step is similar to the first jumping jack step except that this time the player will turn 180 degrees after jumping on the two dots. Players will need to increase their speed and accuracy to be effective with this drill.

Gauntlet Drill for Ball Security

There is nothing more important for offense to learn great ball security. This of course is even more important for wide receivers and running backs as they handle the ball more than most. A great drill called the gauntlet practices ball security. The point to the gauntlet drill is to have a player run through several opponents that try to dislodge the football. The opponents can line up in any scenario, the most common being two lines and the ball carrier must run through them. Make sure to take the drill slow at first, and to also have the ball carrier hold the ball in several differing positions.

Low Ball Catching Techniques

This means that quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, etc have gone through the motions several times and know how to react to situations on the field. One situation that happens a lot in a game is catching the low passes. Here are some secrets to making this catch. First keep the pinkies together down low to make a shovel. This ensures that the ball will not slip through your fingers. Locking your pinkies prevents the football from falling through your hands. Third, once the ball touches your hands scoop it up into your chest and tuck it away into a secure position. Third, once you have caught the ball, tuck it away as soon as possible. Keep your eyes right on the ball. And always see the ball through, meaning that you are watching it into the tuck.

Proper Catching Leads to Great Ball Security

Catching the football properly and effectively is fundamental to a strong offense. A great catch can be broken down into three steps: First, keep your arms extended out in front of your body with your hands out forming an imaginary triangle with your fingers and thumbs. Second, keep your eyes on the ball through the entire catch. Third, tuck the ball away security, keeping your eyes on the ball, so that it is in a high tight position. Bad habits can form easily as many receivers look away mid catch to scan the field for defenders. This increases fumbles and turnovers. To overcome this habit set up a simple drill where two players pass the ball to each other stopping at each critical step: the catch, the follow through, and the tuck.