D R H S C O A C H E S R O N W O I T A L E W I C Z ( H C / D C / L B ) J E R E M I A H B E H R E N D S E N ( O C / Q B ) P A U L S H E E H Y ( S T C / D L ) T I E R R E D U R A N ( J V H C / D B ) D U A N E C R A I G ( W R ) C H R I S F L Y N T ( W R ) J E F F H I N E S ( D L ) M A R K L E O N ( D B ) E R I C N E Y E N ( L B ) J O H N O F F E R D A H L ( D B ) M A T T O S T E R H A U S ( O L ) J A R E D S C H U L Z ( R B ) G O R D O N S T A N T ( O L ) N I C K M A Y ( H F C ) S C O T T C A V A L L A R O ( F ) V I N C E G R I S H M A N ( F ) J O E W E G N E R ( F ) D R S A Y O U T H F B J O H N K E L L N E R J O E C H R I S T E N S E N M A R K C U S I C K B I L L S T U B B L E F I E L D I N T H I S I S S U E P A G E 2 U P C O M I N G E V E N T S / D A T E S O F F - S E A S O N D L W O R K O U T S P A G E 3 O F F - S E A S O N D L W O R K O U T S C O N T I N- U E D D R H S P L A Y E R S P O T L I G H T P A G E S 4-5 S O Y O U W A N T T O P L A Y C O L L E G E F B! P A G E 6 Y O U T H C O A C H E S C O R N E R J A N. 1 0 T H, 2 0 1 6 V O L U M E 3, I S S U E 5 V O L U M E 3, I S S U E 5 Coach Woj s Update: As we approach the summer, I hope that all our student/ athletes will finish up the school year strong and on a positive note. We have had a really good spring with all of our morning sessions and the players have continued to improve and get better. We really need to focus on getting our academic grades up to ensure that we are eligible for the fall season, which will be on us quickly. Best of luck to all our players who are still involved in the spring playoff season and the hopes of winning a state championship in their sport. I love that we have so many players on our football team that are playing multiple sports. I read a stat that showed 29 of the 32 first round picks in the 2018 NFL draft were at least two sport athletes in high school. That is an awesome number and shows why you can t specialize at a certain sport while in high school. Playing other sports helps with athletic ability and keeps our players competitive during the offseason for football. We just finished up with our freshman minicamp at Summit Ridge and it was a great camp for those young men coming into the program. They learned a lot of information in three days and the energy and willingness to learn and be coached really showed during the camp. We will be having our Varsity/JV camp May 14-17 at Dakota Ridge as we install and implement our offense, defense and special teams as we prepare for Coach Woj DRHS Head Coach the CSU-Pueblo team camp in June. The team camp this summer should be an excellent chance for us to see where we are as team with Pine Creek (4A state runner-up), Broomfield (4A semi-finalist), and Erie (3A state runner-up) all at the camp we will be attending. This will provide great and exciting competition for our players and coaches. The camp will just provide another chance for our kids to get better and give us a chance to coach them up over the 4 days we will be together focusing on football. June 1 st our varsity and JV players will begin their summer lifting program with an NFL style combine that day testing in a variety of events. June 4 th the freshman will begin at 8:15 a.m. and the summer will be off and running. June 4 th also begins our summer Speed and Agility camp for grades 2-12. I would love and encourage all of you to sign up your son/daughter for the Speed Camp. It is a 5-week camp that runs M-W-F until July 6. We require all our football players to attend the camp, as we believe it is that valuable to their overall success and athletic development. Many of you have heard that DRSA Youth Football has again joined JMFA and I strongly encourage you to sign your son up to play football with DRSA and enjoy all the value that football brings for them as part of their development and growing up. You can go to www.dakotaridgesports.org to register now and be put on a team. With all the great work that they will get during Speed and Agility camp, they will be ready when the season starts. Included in the registration is a 2 -day full contact camp at Dakota Ridge put on by our football staff. It will run July 27 from 6:00 7:30 p.m. and July 28 from 9:00 10:30 a.m. Please get your children actively involved in youth sports and encourage them to just do their best. Be a positive role model for your son/daughter and always be positive with officials and coaches. I will leave you with this: Remember when you are having a bad day, that your bad day just might be someone else s fairytale. Don t Flinch! Ron Woitalewicz (Coach Woj) Head Football Coach Ronald.Woitalewicz@jeffco.k12. co.us
P A G E 2 Upcoming Events/Dates Events for DRHS Football 5/24 Speed Camp forms and money for all remaining players is due by this date 6/4 Summer Lifting and Speed Camp begins (all 9-12 football players need to attend) Varsity/JV Lift 8:00-10:00 Speed Camp 10:30-11:30 Freshman Speed Camp 9:00-10:15 Lift 10:30-12:00 Events for DRHS Football 6/9-6/12 CSU-Pueblo Team Contact Camp Invite Only 5/17 List and Forms given out 5/30 Forms/Money Due 6/14 Broncos 7 on 7 and Lineman Challenge DR Youth, Community & Coaches Speed and Agility Camp for grades 2-8 Mon.-Wed.-Fri. 6/4-7/6 9:00-10:15 @DRHS Registration at end of newsletter! Youth Football Registration is Open!!! Flag Football is offered for K-1 Tackle Football is offered for 2-8 Go to dakotaridgesports.org to register ASAP! Coach Sheehy: Off-Season DL Workouts-The Key to Success It starts up front, as we go-so goes the defense, and the best coverage in the world is a sack Our Dakota Ridge defense, as a whole, has done some great things. Our defense has led all of 4A football in QB Sacks each of the past two seasons; we ve had a total of 12 kids earn first or second team All Plains League honors; and the League Defensive MVP have been Dakota Ridge linebackers each of the past two seasons as well. With apologies to our great coaches and coaches at the linebacker and defensive back positions, phrases such as It starts up front, as we go, so goes the defense, and the best coverage in the world is a sack are ones we on the defensive line believe in and try to live up to. For us, success on Friday Nights in the fall begins at 7:00 am morning sessions in the off-season. This off-season, we have changed the focus of our offseason morning sessions to work exclusively on various individual techniques, and I ll share how we set up our offseason workouts. We refer to the various techniques taught as tools in the toolbox to emphasis there are many ways to handle a particular situation, whether a pass rush, run fit, tough offensive lineman, or pesky running back coming on a lead block, for example, you just have to find the right tool to fit the situation and which you are comfortable with. This off-season, we divided each morning technique session into individual skill blocks, focusing on drills and techniques to address each one. Here s what our schedule looks like: Session 1: Start at the Start the importance of being fundamentally exceptional: focus on quick feet, agility; proper stances vs run and pass; generating a quick, explosive, powerful get-off ; simple hands drills for defensive linemen to use to combat offensive linemen; simple rip move Session 2: Hands & Explosion Techniques review of fundamentals; work on pre-snap eye-focus (on the back tip of the ball); work on grabbing cloth and controlling the offensive lineman with a knock em back mentality; reinforce these techniques on air, vs live players, and on the bull sled Session 3: Block Recognition & Destruction recognizing different types of blocks used by offensive linemen and ways to beat each (Base/Man blocks, Reach, Scoop, and Pulls); review explosive get-offs and arms of steel Session 4: Pass Rush Skills a favorite of most of our players, we work on a number of techniques to beat the offensive lineman and get to the QB, from both an inside and outside position; we work on Bull Rush; Speed Rush; Speed Rush converting to a Bull Rush or Cross-face move; Long-Arm technique; Spin move (inside & outside); Strip drill, finishing with a scoop and score
V O L U M E 3, I S S U E 5 P A G E 3...Coach Sheehy: Off-Season DL Workouts-The Key to Success Session 5: D-Line Movement we focus on the various ways to execute a Slant or Angle technique and teach when to employ each type of move; we start with Slant leverage and explosion drills; then working on hard slants, slants-to-shade techniques, and slants-to-gaps; we also work specifically with our NT s on how to play a true 2-gap from both a headup and a shade position (pretty good stuff there!) Session 6: Screen Recognition we spend this session recognizing, reading, and effectively reacting to various types of screen plays run by many offenses we face; the sooner we use our sensory tools to recognize a screen is coming, the quicker we can effectively react to it and shut it down niques. We will also be adding a classroom session to teach our defensive line how to most effectively and efficiently watch film to both prepare for upcoming opponents, and to selfcorrect their own play. Lastly, we are adding to this off-season session is our Defensive Line Dictionary. We want to be sure we are all speaking the same language. In addition, players come to us from different youth teams and different terminology and levels of coaching, so we can t assume we enter the season with the same understanding of things. This dictionary is a work-in-progress, below you will find a sample from it: Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to talk to you about our defensive play, and our off-season morning sessions. It truly is a vital component to the success we have during the fall. We want to be sure we are all speaking the same language...we can t assume we all enter the season with the same understanding Each of these will be worked on, emphasized and reemphasized during the season, but by exposing our players to them throughout the offseason morning sessions, we get to spend time during the time refining each and working on perfecting those tech- Questions? Please feel free to email Coach Sheehy at: DRCoachPaul@gmail.com of things Player Spotlight: Luke Williams Luke wears #50 for the Eagles and is the only returning starter up front from the senior class. Luke s ability to diagnose defenses and lead the offensive line was key for the Eagle s offense last fall. Luke is very intelligent and communicates well with his fellow linemen so effectively which is critical for the offense s success. Luke has been a leader for the Eagles all off-season and the coaches hope that his leadership will only continue to grow. Luke will be a key piece to helping the Eagle s offense get off to a fast start this fall! Check out Luke s highlights at: http://www.hudl.com/ profile/5366428/luke-williams
P A G E 4 So You Want To Play College Football? Recruiting Notes and Tips for Eagles Players and Parents By Special Guest Coach Doug Samuels Note: This is another installment of So, You Want To Play College Football?, a periodic column in our newsletter to help our players and their parents understand, and most importantly, take advantage of the college football recruiting process. These notes and tips are not only meant for rising seniors (current juniors), but for current freshmen and sophomores as well. In fact, the earlier players and parents understand the process, the more ahead of the recruiting game they are. One more thing. Players need to understand that they are student-athletes as both the student and the athlete component will determine his future. The bottom line is this: if any of our Dakota Ridge Eagles players have any thoughts of playing college football, and hopefully obtaining a scholarship, the time to start preparing for that is today. This may be the first and only time a player can perform in person, in front of these coaches. Players must train, prepare and be in absolute top physical condition before participating In this issue, we discuss summer football camps. Your and your family s time is limited, and the cost of these things can add up quickly, so you ll want to be strategic about which ones are best suited to you or your student-athlete. If you re entering your junior season and have seen significant varsity action, you really should include these in your summer plans; if you re entering your senior season, and want to play college ball, you must include these in your summer plans. ere are few basics you should know: There are three different types of camps available to high school players: College Prospect Camps Skill Development Camps Combine or Showcase Camps Each of these types of camps serves a purpose, and can be useful for a high school player, but before you dish out hundreds of dollars on any number of them, know what you are signing up for. Also, by now you know we ve stressed communicating with college coaches early on, so this is another great reason to reach out: ask which camp(s) he might recommend for you. At the very least, it s an other dialogue you can have with a college coach you re hoping to build a relationship with. College Prospect Camps As the name implies, these are for legitimate college football prospects. They are always held on college campuses and run by the coaches from that university. In some cases, multiple colleges will also be represented there, and these types of camps really provide the most bang for your buck. These are essentially the only camps where a player can actually perform in person, in front of college coaches whom he hopes will recruit him. If a player sees significant varsity action as a sophomore, he should look to attend College Prospect Camps the summer entering his Junior season. At the very least, players looking to get recruited should absolutely plan to attend a few College Prospect Camps the summer following his junior year. A very important thing to remember is this: this may be the first and only time a player can perform in person, in front of these coaches. Players must train, prepare and be in absolute top physical condition before participating in these camps. These are as important to high school players as the NFL Combine is to college players. Show these coaches your very best in everything you do, on the field, and in all testing, such as forty yard dash, shuttle, etc. Colleges invite literally thousands of players to their Prospect Camps, as these camps help support their program financially and provide supplemental income to the coaching staffs. Know that receiving an a general invitation to attend does not mean you are actually be recruited by that school. If you plan to attend, let the coach(es) at that school know that you re accepting the invitation, and ask if there is an invite-only camp you can attend first; if not, then be sure he knows you ll be there and make it a point to get there early to introduce yourself to him in advance and stand out from the crowd. (Tip: if you decide not to attend a camp to which you ve received an invitation, use that as an opportunity to reach out to the coach and politely decline, and thank him for the invite. You may learn more about where you are on his recruiting board right then.)
V O L U M E 3, I S S U E 5 P A G E 5...So You Want To Play College Football Continued After the camp, be sure to follow up with the coaches to thank them for that opportunity, and to ask for feedback, including if you are an athlete they will be a part of their recruiting class. This is an important, and very often overlooked step. Don t wait for them to reach out; follow up with them. Skill Development Camps Skill Development Camps are great for both younger players, and the older player really looking to refine his positional skills. A few popular skill development camps include: FBU (www.footballuniversit y.org), which has camps all across the nation, and offers excellent coaching by former NFL and NCAA coaches; Nike s The Opening (www.theopening.com), Offense-Defense Camps (www.o -d.com), and for QB s, RB s and WR s, National Football Academies (www.nationalfootballacademi es.com). For Specialists (kickers, punters, longsnappers), the top camps available include Kohl s Kicking (www.kohlskicking.com), Sailer Kicking (www.chrissailerkicking.com) & Rubio Longsnapping (www.rubiolongsnapping.com), One-on-One kicking (www.oneononekickingcamps. com), and Carney Kicking (www.carneycoaching.com). College coaches cannot attend these camps to watch players, so don t confuse this with a realistic recruiting opportunity. For some players, these skill development camps are vital before they even consider attending College Prospect Camps, as they help the player become at his position. Combine or Showcase Camps These are truly the least beneficial for players looking to get recruited, unless you are going to be the biggest, fastest, or strongest player in the entire camp. College coaches cannot attend these, and these camps generally just send a spreadsheet of player names and results to colleges. These are primarily money-makers, so for players wanting to compete and have their combine testing results and one-on-one results compared to others, look for some free camps to attend, and there are a few good ones. Nike had a good one in its Nike Combine series, but they are not offering them in 2018; the recruiting site Rivals.com offers the Rivals Adizero Combines (www.rivalsadizerocombines.c om) at various locations across the country, and it s free to enter, but I wouldn t advise going if there isn t one within driving distance. If you d like more info on prospect camps go to: drendzone.com and click on Coach Sheehy s So You Want to Play College Football presentation. You will find links and info for all of these camps in addition to tons of other great info!! Skill Development Camps are great for both younger players, and the older player really looking to refine his positional skills Upcoming columns will include information on how to become a recruited athlete; recruiting services; specifics on the recruiting process, including contact periods, etc.; tips on initiating and responding to contact with college coaches; understanding who is recruiting who? ; creating your highlight tape and player resume/infographic; differences in opportunities at the Division 1, DII, DIII levels; the Junior College alternative; and more. If there is a specific topic you d like addressed, send an email to DRCoachPaul@gmail.com and I m happy to add it to the list!
Dakota Ridge Youth Sport Office 5944 S. Kipling Parkway Suite 200 Littleton, CO 80127 Phone: 720-407-4359 Fax: 303-639-6605 E-mail: dakotaridgesports@hotmail.com Soaring High with Eagle Pride Youth Corner with Coach Kellner Dakota Ridge Youth Football to Re-Join JMFA! Along with the Board of Directors at DRSA and the entire DRSA football community we are happy to announce that beginning this 2018 season we will be re-joining the Jeffco Midget Football Association (JMFA). Entering its 74 th season, JMFA is one the longest standing youth football organizations in the state. We are excited to be the exclusive JMFA organization for the entire South Jeffco area, for all players residing in the Dakota Ridge, Columbine, or Chatfield articulation areas. Although the move from Pop Warner was not easy, we are very excited to join an association that aligns with our beliefs as an association: family focused, community based and focused on developing each player as an athlete, student and community member. We will take with us several of the philosophies and beliefs we learned in our two years with Pop Warner to JMFA. We will play against familiar opponents and some excellent high school rivalry schools, including; Wheat Ridge, Lakewood, Bear Creek, Green Mountain, Golden, Arvada, Alameda, Englewood, and Standley Lake. This will allow our football program to continue some of the great geographical rivalries that other sports in our association already have. As I mentioned in the newsletter back in February, I would like to remind you all to get involved now Dakota Ridge Football works hand in hand with Dakota Ridge Youth Football. Our youth football program falls under our youth sport organization, the DRSA. The DRSA s mission is to make a positive impact in the community and the lives of our children and youth by providing a quality sports development program for the Dakota Ridge area and high school. They also strive to create an environment of leadership and role models, and they recognize the importance of shaping the lives of our children and future leaders. www.dakotaridgesports.org more than ever! We are asking the DRSA football community to help us: SPREAD THE WORD - - Big Time Football. Small Town Community Feel. FUNDRAISING - - Local business sponsorships would be happy to know that we have re-joined JMFA PARTICIPATE- -Get your players and/or coaches signed up! Questions? Give us a call at (720) 407-4359 or email DRSA Football Director, John Kellner at: DRSAOM@hotmail.com Coach Kellner has served as both an assistant and head coach within the DRSA and was recently elected the President of DRSA Football! Coach Kellner is dedicated to the philosophies of the Positive Coaches Alliance (PCA) and is an exceptional Coach and resources to our players and other DRSA Coaches!