ACADEMICS

FULL COURSE LOAD
All of our players must carry a full course load to be eligible to play. As you get older the definition of a "full course load" changes. For example: Seniors may not have to take as many classes as freshman to maintain a "full course load".

MINIMUM G.P.A.
A minimum G.P.A. of 2.0 must be maintained. There are no excuses. In the past, report cards are issued prior to the last regular season game. To be eligible to play in that game, and any post-season games, you must pass your classes in-season.

COLLEGE ELIGIBILITY:
Coach Jones has a very detailed portfolio designed to assist you in the college recruiting process. To learn more about the process, please schedule time to sit down with Coach.

REQUIRED FORMS

ALL athletes (including freshman) must have the following forms filled out in order to play. You will not practice without these forms:

• Parent Permission form

• Blue Card

• Athletics Physical Exam form, filled out by a Physician

All of the above can be found at the Nurse's office in the high school.

IN-SEASON COMMITMENT

The football season is a full-time committment. Once practice begins in August, assume you will have practice or a game EVERY DAY.
When you do get a day off, relax and enjoy it.

Practice:
All practice sessions are MANDATORY. If you are going to miss practice with a legitmate excuse, the coaching staff must be notified AHEAD of time, and a note must come from the adult excusing you.

Games:
All Varsity home games are played at Boyle Stadium on Friday nights. All away games are played at the opponent sight on either Friday night or Saturday afteroon.

All Junior Varsity Games are played on Monday afternoons or Saturday mornings.

All Sophomore games are played on Wednesday afternoon or night.

All Freshman games are played on Thursday afternoon or night.

Typical Varsity Schedule:
Monday - lifting/study hall, practice, films, JV Game
Tuesday - lifting/study hall, practice
Wednesday - study hall, practice, Soph. game
Thursday - study hall, practice, dinner
Friday - GAME or practice
Saturday - GAME or film/conditioning, Possible JV game
Sunday - off, unless game is played Sat.

Typical Freshman Schedule:
Monday - practice
Tuesday - practice
Wednesday - practice
Thursday - GAME
Friday - practice
Saturday, Sunday - off

12-MONTH CALENDAR

Mid-August through November:
We will have a practice or game every day, with the exception of some Sundays in-season.

December through May:
We will expect you to take part in strength and conditioning on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Late-May through Early June:
Spring Football Practice is mandatory unless your spring sport is in the playoffs. We use Spring Practice as our tryouts for the following season. Spring Football ends with the Annual Black & Orange Game and picnic.

June through August:
You will condition on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, which consists of 6:30 am Speed and Agility Workouts, and lifting sessions.

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

Conditioning at Stamford High is year round!

Strength Development:
We are not as concerned with how "big" you get, as we are with preventing injuries from occurring. In fact, 90% of why we lift weights is injury prevention. We want muscle packed around those joints!
How we test this:
- Bench Press (1 Repetition Maximum)
- - Pre-Fall, Winter, and Spring
- Parallel Squat (1RM)
- - Pre-Fall, Winter, and Spring

Explosive Power Development :
Football is primarily an explosive movement sport. For this reason you need muscle development which allows you to be more explosive than your opponent.
How we test this:
- Power Clean (1RM)
- - Pre-Fall, Winter, and Spring
- Vertical Jump (best of 2 attempts)
- - Pre-Fall

Aerobic Conditioning:
Your teammates need to depend on you in the fourth quarter. Where will you be? We want you on the field. Only athletes who are in top aerobic condition can make it through the rigors of a football season.
How we test this:
- 300-yard Shuttle (avg. of 3 Repetitions)
- - Pre-Fall

Speed:
Regardless of your position, speed and quickness are critical elements for every athlete - be it foot speed, hand speed, or flat-out speed!
How we test this:
- 40-yard Dash (best of 2 attempts)
- - Pre-Fall and Spring

Agility:
We are not sprinters; football players must possess change of direction skills. Our agility programmed is designed to make you physically able to handle the full-speed change of direction which occurs in each and every down of a football game.
How we test this:
- Pro Agility (best of 2 attempts)
- - Pre-Fall

SUMMER CAMPS

We encourage EVERY Black Knight Football Player to attend at least one football camp during the summer.

The coaching staff highly recommends camps run by college staffs, where the teaching, as well as the recruiting exposure, is at the highest level.

For recommendations, information and/or brochures for all summer camps, please see Coach Jones.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Community service is a vital part of being a Black Knight Football Player.

While our practice and workout schedule does not allow for an excessive commitment, we do encourage you to volunteer in the community whenever possible. Most of our community service is performed by our Seniors and Juniors. During the year there will be some events that we may expect you to attend.

These events might include: Stark Elementary School Field Day (pictured), a visit to a local day care center, or a visit to a local after-school program to play basketball with elementary students.

JACKETS

The SHS Football Jacket is black wool, with white leather sleeves and orange, black and white trim. The back of the jacket will have the words "Stamford Football" surrounding our Black Knight logo.
Your name will be sewn into the front of the jacket, along with your varsity letter. Your graduation numerals will be sewn on the sleeve.

You DO NOT need a varsity letter to order a jacket.

The minimum jacket cost is $165. Larger sizes add to the price (XXXL will be approximately $175). This is nearly half off the price other stores will charge us for a lesser jacket.

How to Order the Jacket:
Open the order form and print it. Follow the directions and return it to the football office. We must order the jackets in groups - single orders cannot be processed at the listed price.

Jacket Order Form - [.pdf file]