This will also be online @
trentonfootball.net
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Bob Czarnecki
Aaron Segedi
Bill Miller
Joe Petrena (JV)
Dave Gerbi (JV)
Bob Powell
Jeff Charping
Don Kolcheff
Tom Bridges (9)
Marc Gonyea (9)
Nick Porreca
Jason Barbosa
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The 10th-12th grade groups will drill together.
When a varsity coach does not have a primary
position, he is free to help at the lower levels.
We design practice to free most of us up to
be able to lend another set of eyes and ears.
At times, the 9th grade group will work with
the JV group.
An example might be for a 7-on-7 allowing
the best of each group to compete against
one another.
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Taylor Kennedy, as many of you have
probably heard, will be closing after next
year. It is their intent to field a football team
at the JV and Varsity levels.
Dearborn Edsel Ford has been formally
invited to join the Downriver League (20182019).
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Adam is here to size and consult in terms of
shoes, cloth, etc.
He has set up an online order system…no
money here…pay on the site…receive orders
at home.
I would suggest looking at purchasing a
girdle that has the pads built in…found them
to be more convenient.
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Must pass 4 of 5 classes the semester prior to the season.
Incoming 9th graders are all eligible.
Must have a physical on file in the athletic director’s office.
Physicals are being offered on Friday, June 16th from 12-4.
I would suggest they get them done at that time.
Cost: $20.00 (Please have physical form filled out before
child arrives at appointment-it will expedite the process
for everyone-we have provided you with a copy of the
physical forms)-You can pay cash or with checks made out
to Trenton Public Schools.
Participation Fee: $130.00-You can pay cash, by check
made out to Trenton Public Schools, or online through
MyPaymentPlus (direct link on trentonathletics.com)
Lunches for doubles- $20.00 (Cash Only)
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This is our first day of summer workouts; we
will gather under the trees at 7:55. The kids
will dress in workout gear. On a normal
workout day, we will finish around 11:00
We will have them out in time to shower and
attend physicals.
I will have the water horse up and running;
however, they may want to bring their own
water. We will encourage them to bring home
what they bring to workouts.
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I realize that they are going to be pulled in
many different directions this summer. There
is summer hockey, baseball, etc. Since
football is next, it is my hope that it holds
that importance to your sons.
We will work out on Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday from 8 am-11 am.
7 on 7 candidates have already been
informed.
We have 7 dates to compete against other
schools throwing and defending.
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We split the group into three and run a circuit
with them: Lifting, Agilities/Speed, Dynamic
Flexibility. There is a finite amount of time
this summer. Those who miss will be behind
in their conditioning. Thus the importance of
putting this program first.
In the end, it will keep them safer.
There are two weeks where we will have
limited or no contact with our players per the
state.
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The week of July 3rd is a dead week; we will
not have contact with our players. In the
past, our seniors have organized conditioning
workouts for all grades.
The week of July 31st- August 4th is called
down week. We cannot do anything “football
specific” but can condition; we use that week
to hand out equipment. M-12, T-11, W-10,
and Th-9. We expect that everyone will
attend each session because we condition
prior to equipment selection.
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Double sessions will begin on Monday,
August 7th at 8 am; we will take attendance at
7:55.
We will practice twice a day for the first two
weeks of the season. The second practice
tends to vary depending on the needs of the
group. For the most part, we will be back out
at 1:00 until about 3:30.
Lunch will be offered by the TD Club the first
3 days of practice…thus the $20.00 charge.
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Program Pictures will take place on Saturday,
August 12th TBD. Please feel free to come
and take as many pictures as you would like
to take. The pictures you take will be
memories that they can tell lies about
later…the older I get, the better player I was
in high school!!!
Seriously, I want all of you to be a part of this
DASH they are on right now.
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We will gather on Wednesday, August 16th @
6:00 pm for our program picnic. This is the
27th year of the picnic; I think people enjoy
getting together. Make sure to bring a chair
and something to drink.
We will announce our captains at this picnic;
the event culminates with the introduction of
our cheerleaders and players (all levels) on
the game field.
More picture opportunities.
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On Thursday, August 17th, we will scrimmage
Monroe Catholic Central. The JV team will start
at 4 (on our practice field) bring a chair to sit in.
The varsity scrimmage will begin at 6 on the
game field.
We are still looking for a 9th grade scrimmage; so
few have 9th grade teams anymore…tough to
find. We have contact New Boston Huron and
Edsel Ford to find a scrimmage
We are charging canned goods as admission;
they will then be taken to the church where we
attend game day service.
Any questions about the service????
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Following the scrimmage, we will have one
long practice which will include film study,
lifting, and on the field work (depending on
what we saw the evening prior).
The following Monday we are getting ready
for Allen Park. We will practice once a day;
although, we may have them on campus
longer that week. We have to take advantage
of not having school.
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This is the part where, at times, I think I
waste my time. Most people seem to
understand what I am going to tell each of
you until their child is affected by a decision.
I am not trying to be argumentative; it is just
an observation I have made over the years.
This is a no cut sport; However, everyone
here has to understand that all children will
not play the same amount. That is the
byproduct of not cutting.
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Lettering is simple; I will letter any young man
(playing at the varsity level) who finishes the
season in good standing. If they do what we ask,
they deserve a letter no matter their playing time.
I guess this is a good time to talk about playing
time; we try to play as many kids as is possible
and still put this team in the best possible
position to succeed. I want you to understand
right now that yelling from the stands is not
going to influence playing time.
Their ability, their work ethic and attitude will
help this coaching staff determine the amount of
time each child plays.
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We spend an inordinate amount of time
talking about our rosters and who should
play where. We try, as best we can, to make
decisions based on where we believe your son
will play when he becomes a varsity
candidate.
This is another place where the summer is
important as we start to put schemes in
place.
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This may sound ridiculous, but Coach Cook
once taught me that the less rules you have,
the better.
So we try to have some very simple axioms:
be where you are supposed to be when you
are supposed to be there, do nothing to
embarrass yourself, our team, our school, or
your family.
Just like at home, there will be consequences
for actions that fly in the face of these
axioms.
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Just like playing time, I will determine what
happens in any given situation. For instance,
a child may miss practice because his mother
is in the hospital; another because he wants
to go to a Tiger’s game. Both missed
practice, but I may treat each differently. I
believe that we all do that at our homes; I do
not have a “one deal fits all” policy.
Thus, absences are deemed excused or
unexcused by me.
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The rest are real-life consequences. If you
miss work, you will get fired. I guess better
they learn now then later.
Practice is important for several obvious
reasons; we are putting in schemes,
revamping plans, honing skills, etc. The
bottom line is your son has made a
commitment to us and his team; he needs to
learn to honor commitments.
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I hope what we do goes beyond the playing
field and their playing days and are lessons
that will help them through their personal
DASH. I have heard from enough ex-players
to know that what is said and done does have
a lasting effect on many of them. Just like at
home, you may be wondering if they are
listening because their behavior indicates
they are not…trust me…they are listening.
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They are an unfortunate by product of any
sport or activity; we are lucky because we
have Lori Holcomb. She does a terrific job of
helping our kids recover from injury.
However, she cannot help if they are not here.
We expect our injured players to come to
practice and receive treatment from Miss
Holcomb.
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I stole this from Coach Rod Baker (rest his
soul) when he was at Wyandotte.
We are asking that everyone wait at least 24
hours before voicing a complaint. I will have
to commend all of you, who have been with
us over the years; we are lucky to have the
parents we have compared to some of the
horror stories I have heard from other
coaches in this league.
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This gives all of us a chance to calm down
and reassess what may have taken place.
Our assistant coaches have been reminded
not to take a parking lot visit with any of you.
That comes from me; it is not them trying to
be rude to you.
Nothing good has been decided in a parking
lot, at least not in my experience.
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This is the process (to question something)
that we have taught and followed since I have
been here: First, have you son go to his
position coach. Secondly, if there is no
resolution, I will sit with the coach and player
and try to resolve the issue (remember, this
may not always work out the way everyone
would hope it would). Next, if there is not
resolution, we will involve the position coach,
myself, parents, and the player involved.
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I think the responsibility falls on the players
shoulders to resolve issues. I hope that you
will encourage your sons to follow this
procedure. I do not think, as they get older,
they are going to expect or want a parent to
take up for them. Too many ugly things have
happened over the years, in other sports
here, and nation-wide. We need to teach our
children to be problem solvers.
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I will dismiss a player who is caught drinking
or using drugs. I hope that hanging this over
their head will help them make good choices.
The last thing I want to do is have to put my
arms around any of you at Martenson’s.
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In the past, we have had players who have
medical conditions that need monitoring. We
need to know about these players so that we can
also keep our eyes open. Inhalers, testing kits,
etc. have been on the practice field for those
players to use (obviously, those are prescribed to
the players).
We have not had a medical emergency since I
have been here because we have been made
aware early.
This is another area where Lori is invaluable. She
makes the calls on whether a player can practice,
if they need some time out of practice, etc.
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Our banquet is 10-12…which is not an
attempt to slight our 9th graders. In the past,
I have seen our 9th graders get awards and
then their families sneak out. They will have
their own little gathering.
It becomes too long a night if all are in
attendance; again, we are not trying to slight
anyone, just trying to be practical.
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Last season, it was brought to my attention
that one of our “fans” was yelling ugly things
from the stands at Lori. I cannot think of a
more cowardly thing to do. That is not how
we conduct ourselves, that is not what we do
in Trenton.
Be a fan, cheer the kids on…I understand the
pressures of being a parent of a player. I
hope all of us can find a way to enjoy this
time in the lives of your sons.
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Camps, Combines, etc.- that is your call. Just
make sure that your son is combine ready.
These have become the latest meat markets in
our sport. However, it is the best way to be seen
by many.
Recruiting- this has changed drastically over the
last few years; with the advent of Social Media,
the mechanics have changed.
Let me try to make this clear to all of you; I am as
heart broken as you are when we have a player,
who I think can play at a particular school, and
the school does not agree.
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I will do whatever I can do; however, I can only do
so much.
I guess it would be like asking a girl out…we
called her several times, texted, emailed, and she
doesn’t respond or tells us that she will get back
to us and never does. At what time do we get
the not-so-subtle hints?
I think I have a fair command for the levels our
kids can play at upon graduation; ultimately, I do
not make those decisions.
I try to be honest with the college coaches I deal
with knowing that I need them to keep coming
back to Trenton High School.
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Please be careful with the cloth; If it comes
back pink, it will not be hard to see your son
on the field, he will be in pink!!!
We are entering a really dangerous time of
the year; graduation and graduation parties
are right around the corner.
Remember, their eligibility starts right now.
I stopped going to grad parties when I started
to notice the inordinate amount of red plastic
cups in our student’s hands.
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This is the Trenton Touchdown Club’s 27th
year.
It has been kept afloat by some very
dedicated parents; unfortunately, not enough
of them. I implore all of you to get involved
with this club. Its soul purpose is to generate
scholarship monies for your sons.
The more people involved, the easier it is for
everyone.