While most students are taking advantage of the semester break to take a much needed summer vacation, two athletic programs on the campus of Grambling State University have decided to use the time to build upon their teams’ strengths and capabilities.
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Practice is a necessary part of any sport. Some members of the football and basketball teams are using the summer for
strength and conditioning training.
The Tigers’ football and men’s basketball team began their summer workouts shortly after the first session of summer school.
Both teams are affording themselves the opportunity to reinforce their strengths which will properly prepare them for this upcoming athletic season.
Led by head coach Broderick Fobbs, a large number of the G-Men (9-3 overall, 9-1 SWAC) have began their summer workouts with drills and individual training behind the guidance of Strength and Conditioning Coach Jarwarski Beckum.
Workouts for the G-Men begin as early as 6:05 in the morning.
“When we enter our offseason phase there are still things that need to be fixed. Weaknesses can be strengthened and mistakes can be corrected,” said Beckum.
During their workouts, the players are also able to improve on their individuals strengths by participating in weight training and exercises while on the practice field drill instructions are rendered by Coach Beckum.
Less than a half a mile down the road, the men’s basketball team, (7-24 overall, 4-14 SWAC) under the direction of head Coach Shawn Walker, are also working to strengthen themselves as a team and individually in the Recreational Intramural Facility. The players assemble in the intramural center at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and have weight training on Monday and Wednesday of each week.
“It gives us as a team an opportunity to develop a skill we didn’t have a year ago. We’re working hard both individually and collectively. Last year we didn’t have any of the players for the summer; this year we have eight,” said Coach Walker.