Summer programs, camps in full swing for CCISD

The Copperas Cove school district kicked off their plethora of summer sports programs and camps this week with the Dawg summer golf program for incoming students grades 7-12 and Dawg summer track, along with a Lady Dawg volleyball camp for grades 1-9, Dawg power camp for grade 7-9 and NCAA football camp for students grades 1-6. The object of these summer programs are to help pique interest in the sports for those who haven’t competed, build the skill level of those already involved and to boost the athletic program as a whole. Head golf coach and assistant football coach, Ryan Youngblood, is hard at work for both programs. He splits time between the football camps and the golf program. “We’re working hard in the summer,” he   aid at the Hills of Cove Golf Course on Tues “(Head coach and athletic director) Jack (Welch) and (offensive coordinator and associate athletic director) Tracy (Welch) are great mentors of mine and they have a  few quotes, ‘the harder you worker, the harder you surrender’. That’s somethi g I’ve grown up with in Cove over my coaching career. And Tracy’s, ‘only the mind can limit what you can do,’ I hear that all the time. If you put your mind to it, you’ll be successful.” Youngblood and his squad, like the other camps, got underway on Monday. He knows that hard work in the offseason leads to success during the season and is looking to get his golf team on par with the leaders of the district. “Looking in the future, golf is a year-round sport to keep them competitive and just build the program. We are trying to build a program from the little kids all the way to the top and make this thing successful to compete with the Midways and Beltons. I think you’ll see in the future, we’ll be pretty close. If they put in the work, I’ll be here.” Youngblood’s squad starts with weight-training before going to the golf course for an hour every day  onday through Thursday.The program will continue through the summer. For  more information on the summer golf program, contact Youngblood at (254) 371- 5622 or  mail youngblood@  ccisd.com or contact assistant coaches Nate Reding at SC Lee Junior High and Cooper Carlton at Cove Junior High. The Dawg power camp,headed by Cove defensive coordinator Reb Brock, also began on Monday at the annex. Campers are learning on lifting safety, proper body  echanics, posture, exercise  technique, and coordination training with the primary focus being olympic weightlifting movements, multi-joint strength exercises, and plyometrics. After warming up on Tuesday, the campers trained in plyometrics outdoors beforeeturning to the weight room for olympic weightlifting techniques. For information on the camp contact Reb Brock at 254-547-4111. Throwing, running, catching and tackling are among the top focuses at the NCAA football camp for  grade 1-6 held 8 a.m. through noon Monday through Thursday at SC Lee Junior High. The camp works on the fundamentals of the game and proper tackling techniques for safety. For more information contact Jeff Shannon or Becky Jewell at 254-547- 4111. The Lady Dawgs volleyball  camp is also underway for campers grades 1-9. The camp, conducted by head coach Cari Lowery, focuses on the basic fundamentals, as well as advanced  ffensive and defensive strategies.A high level of repetition  is used to constantly reinforcefundamentals and build muscle  memory.The 8th and 9th graders go from 8:30 a.m. through noon while the 6th and 7th graders go from 1-4 p.m. and the 1st-5th graders go from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Summer track opened the season with a meet Tuesday at Bulldawg Stadium. Results to come in Tuesday’s Copperas Cove Leader- Press.