I was introduced to spring football practice when I was coaching in Richardson, Texas many, many years ago. I was an assistant coach at Richardson North Junior high and during the Spring I got to help the high school coaches during their practices. It was a great learning opportunity for me and for the players. Since that time, I have been involved with Spring Practice every year.
1999 was the year of my first Spring practice in Texas. We had 4 full week of full-pad practice and I believe that Arkansas was just starting with allowing a week or so. I'm not too sure, you'd have to ask someone that was in the state at the time. When I became a head coach in Arkansas in 2003 (I think) we were allowed 2 full weeks of full-pad practices. Since that time there have been many rule changes to prevent players going through a lot of contact. Player safety is the reason for these rule changes.
I believe that Spring practices are vital to building a successful team. There are many questions that need to be answered after a season ends. Those questions are mostly about who is going to fill positions. But another question to be answered is what is this teams identity. The team may be called the same mascot, but they are by no means the same. New players, players that have matured physically or mentally, and possibly new coaches changes the dynamics of a team. Spring practices allow coaches and players the opportunity to work with one another to solidify the identity of the team. Players can try new positions, new techniques, or try to move up the depth chart. Coaches can try new plays, new techniques of coaching, or an entire new offense or defense. All the while, they are building a new team. A team that is same in some ways as previous years, but one that is theirs.
If you have time, come and watch as the Golden Eagles build new team.
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