Schools
The Goals of Spring Football
Coaches of Clearwater's four high school football teams discuss their goals and objectives for spring football now in it's third week.
Calvary Christian coach Dave Bonchi hopes to have his offense installed by the end of spring practice.
One thing he shouldn't have to worry about is who he will build an offense around. Allen Barnes returns and was the team's biggest weapon. Barnes led Calvary Christian with an average of five yards a carry and passed for 619 yards for the season out of an I-formation/shotgun backfield.
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Bonchi hopes to work on fundamentals as well as install an offense by the time May ends.
"Basically, we try to focus on both," Bonchi said. "We have new kids that are coming out to play who have not played before. So we work on fundamentals at the same time we try to polish the basics of our offense."
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Stephen Rice should also be a force on defense. He started 10 games and led the team with 65 tackles.
Though currently Bonchi has about 20 players on the roster he can still have scrimmages where he runs seven-on-seven drills and half-line scrimmages.
For longtime Clearwater coach Tom Bostic, spring is for learning.
Spring football practice that is.
It is the beginning of the new football year. So Bostic is trying to learn who can do what.
"What we are trying to do is get in what we are going to use in the fall," Bostic said. "We have to get to know the abilities of the players and see who can use [the offense or defense]."
Just like learning in the classroom, there also will be tests.
"We will play around with different things," Bostic said. "We may look at a new defense. We may try some new wrinkles on offense. See what the players can do."
Clearwater Central Catholic coach John Davis has simple plateaus he wants to reach in spring football.
"My first main goal is to not kill anyone," Davis joked.
But for his players, spring football is a growing experience, both mentally and physically.
"We'll try to get a little bit better every day," Davis said. "The young kids will have to walk through the process and we'll see if we can get them through the process."
"We don't have the numbers enough so at every position we're not yet set. We have to find some kids who can win here."
Part of the learning experience for the Marauders is that Davis' team will be fairly young.
"In spring practice we're able to go a little slower and some teaching," Davis said. "We won't put in our entire offense or our entire defense; it's more teaching and basics of the game to see if they can play. In the fall, you don't have the time. That's why spring is so vital. "
Countryside coach Jared Davis knows exactly what his goals are this spring after putting together two consecutive undefeated regular seasons.
"We are trying to develop the lines," Davis said. "We're losing many seniors from offensive and defensive lines; we really have to determine who can really help us in the fall. That's a huge need position this spring."
That's not to say Davis' squad is void of talent. It's not, he said, just inexperienced.
"Cornerback is another position where we have to determine who will step up and be the guys for us this fall."
Spring practice, Davis noted, is when teams should have figured out who will start for them this fall. Then, the team just develops depth.
"Then, it's a building process for the fall," Davis said. "The spring for us, it is really like our fall camp. No more two-a-days like we used to have. This is where we get ready for the fall."
"Our grind is the spring."
