High school football players keep in tip-top shape with recommended summer workouts

By Richard Gwin

Free State High School athletes spend time during the summer lifting weights and doing drills to stay in shape and prepare for the fall football season.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Seth Holiday, a football player at Free State, runs sprints in almost-100-degree weather June 30, 2011. Lawrence and Free State high schools' football teams have summer training to keep in condition for the upcoming football season.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Keith Loneker lifts weights during an early morning workout with the Free State High School football team June 30, 2011.

Sports might be 90 percent mental, but a smart player who is not in condition won’t even make it onto the field.

That’s why high schools across Kansas, including Free State and Lawrence high schools, are hosting summer sports workouts in preparation for the fall.

Starting at 7 weekday mornings since May 31, Free State football players have been weightlifting, preparing for their first game on Sept. 2 against Olathe South. At 8 a.m., after weights, the team heads outside for a run and conditioning.

Head football coach Bob Lisher said the summer workouts are not required, but are “highly recommended” and the majority of the team shows up each day.

Lisher said he started conducting summer workouts 18 years ago when he was coaching at Lawrence High School.

“They are more ready for the season because they are already accustomed to the hot summer heat and come into the first practice faster and harder than they normally would have without the use of a summer workout program,” Lisher said.

He added that when the players return to practice they are more motivated because they are bigger and stronger than they were the year before.

At Free State, the Firebirds hope the summer workouts will help them improve on last season’s 5-5 record.

“They push you hard to succeed, but that’s what it takes to be a good athlete,” said Ryan Patterson, a senior wide receiver and defensive back.

Pushing the team hard in the summer might sound harsh, but it also provides health benefits.

“Lifting weights and cardiovascular drills really help lower the blood pressure and reduce the risk factors of heart disease,” said Lawrence Athletic Club trainer Todd Trahan.

He added that the workouts also have a psychological benefit and ultimately “help them feel better.”

The summer workouts continue until July 28, when the players get a 10-day break before the first official team practice on Aug. 15.

jreiling 1 year, 11 months ago

Why no pictures of the hard work that LHS football players are doing LJWorld?

cato_the_elder 1 year, 11 months ago

Second that.

workingmom87 1 year, 11 months ago

I know the LHS students are doing the same thing. It's not like we expect every story to include video or interviews from each individual school in town, but come on LJWorld... And yes, we know the Free State folks would be commenting as well if they had been left out.