Today 6th grade orange had a defensive-oriented practice, and it was probably our most physical practice of the season to date. We continue to focus on proper tackling technique to avoid injury, and we reiterated to the players that tackling anywhere near the head in 6th grade will result in a 15-yard facemask penalty, even if the facemask is not actually grabbed.
It was a positive practice, but we still need to bring the intensity up a notch. The coaches told the players that the best tackles come from accelerating through the ball carrier, rather than to the ball carrier. To lighten the mood, I used the example of the karate experts on TV that punch through numerous bricks...they always focus on the bottom one, not the top one.
Former NFL safety John Lynch - who may one day end up in the pro football Hall of Fame - used to say that when he tackled somebody, he tried to imagine not only the actual player, but two or three imaginary players behind the ball carrier. His goal was to drive through the ball carrer to the point that he would have also tackled the imaginary players. I believe this is almost entirely mental, and will take some time. But we'll continue to work on it.
A reminder to parents: Thursday's practice will once again be at Town Hall. On Saturday, we have our scrimmage in Grafton, 9AM-noon, be there by 8AM for warmups. The following week we will return to the high school. Players will be getting their game jerseys on Monday, and pictures will be taken on Tuesday. Picture packets went out in practice today, so if you didn't get one, please have your son get the packet from me (or approach me in practice on your own).
I have gotten a few questions about my contact information. For those of you who cannot find it, my e-mail address is mkenitz@kenitzlaw.com. I prefer e-mail contact for minor issues (such as an expected absence from practice), simply because it is easier for me to organize. However, you may also contact me via phone. My cell is 262-758-0804, and my work is 262-670-9665. Your best bet on pretty much any weekday would be (1) email or (2) work phone. Rob Whitemore has been doing a fantastic job with the website, so you can also consult the website for many common questions.
Thursday is our last chance to prepare for contact against another team. After a couple of weeks, we're getting sick of hitting each other. We'll see you Thursday!
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