The Lakewood Lancers varsity football head coach Scott Meyer has been trying to keep his athletes fit amid the pandemic.
Meyer said that they hold “conditioning workouts at Lakewood two days a week after school.”
Meyer also said that ‘his players and his coaching staff communicate with each other daily, using Zoom during their designated class period for football.
The coach and his staff “believe that communication is the key.”
Meyer and his coaching staff tell their players that the best teams have chemistry, they communicate with each other and they sacrifice personal glory for the common goal.
Meyer ”is an excellent role model and motivator for them to preserve through training during this pandemic,” said athletic director Mike Wadley.
Meyer said he tells his players, “Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence … If you’re in control, They’re in control.”
As a team, Meyer said it has been tough for the coaching staff to train the players through Zoom.
“But they enjoy seeing their players two days a week for practice after school, and they believe they’re getting the best out of their players during those two days,” said Meyer.
From the players’ perspective, Meyer said, ”They wish that they can come and practice every day but nonetheless when they are able to get back on the football field those two days they’re able to be on the field.”
Meyer said he believes that he is in a tougher position than usual because they are watching the players train through Zoom and they see their players only twice a week to train in-person.
The coaching staff are encouraging their players to find ways to get some exercise at home, but they understand that it could be hard to do so.
And the players understand that at this time, they need all the encouragement from their coaching staff and teammates to push through this pandemic.
“Meyer is very happy about getting his players in shape because they have plenty of time since their first game is on January 8th, and he is very optimistic about it,” said Wadley.
The players are very optimistic, too, especially about “training and getting in shape; they understand that January 8th is their day to show what they are about,” according to Meyer.