Vikes use summer to work on skills, build interest
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
Football season is still a couple of months away, but that isn't keeping the Vikings from working on their game.
The squad is participating in a six-week series of clinics with head coach Bruce Corbett and his assistants at the Bigfork High School football field. Each week the coaches are working with a different position.
"It allows us to slow things down and focus on each position," Corbett said. "We could group it all together, but by splitting it up we can focus on the fundamentals better."
The team has already seen a vast increase in numbers from last year. They began last season with only 14 players, but two weeks ago 22 quarterbacks and wide-receivers showed up for a clinic to get ready for this season.
"After that clinic, it looks like our team speed is going to improve greatly," Corbett said. "We are very pleased at the number of kids that have returned to the football program. We aren't anywhere near where we would like to be in numbers, but we are excited about where we're at."
The team is still looking for more players, especially those who have never played football before.
The free clinics are open to any BHS boy interested in joining the team. No registration is needed. Participants just need to show up at the BHS football field, and a parent must accompany them for the first day to fill out required paperwork. All clinics are at 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. The remaining clinics this summer include the defensive back and linebackers clinic July 14-16, the offensive line and defensive line clinic July 21-23 and the punters and kickers clinic July 28-30.
From what he has seen so far in the clinics, Corbett said the team "looks to be far more competitive this year due to our numbers and quality of athletes."
Corbett also hosts weightlifting sessions Monday through Thursday for all school athletes. From 6:01 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 6:01 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the weight room is open to all BHS athletes. From 4:01 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. there is an introduction to weight training program for seventh and eighth graders.
Many other football teams go to camps at area colleges to work on their skills over the summer. Since Corbett used to help put those type of camps together he said he feels that it is best for the Vikings to have their own clinics right at home. This way they can work on the things they need to focus on.
"It allows us to communicate the fundamentals of the game and expose them to the terminology of our program, and it helps them know what to expect when they report to practice in the fall" Corbett said.