Marble Falls strength and conditioning draws a good number of athletes on first day

The Marble Falls Independent School District athletics department began its summer strength-and-program June 13, and coaches were content with the number of athletes who showed up for the voluntary sessions.

Fifty-five high school boys and 40 seventh- and eighth-graders worked out. The Lady Mustangs had about 38 representing grades 7-12.

The program for all athletes is under the direction of strength-and-conditioning coach Richard Scales.

Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Robert Draper said some older boys didn’t attend because of work-scheduling conflicts.

“We have kids who are getting their work schedules adjusted,” he said. “And we have some at church camps, on vacations. We tell them that if they’re in town, they need to be here working with each other.”

These sessions are monitored by coaches, who are correcting technique and emphasizing the Mustang approach to lifting and conditioning, Draper added.

“The effort and attitude has been good,” he said. “When they’re here, the kids are working really hard. Our kids are starting back up, and we want them to press each other. I think it’ll improve as we go along.”

With the graduation of more than 30 players on the 2021 football team, many of whom were multi-year starters on both sides of the ball, the program is looking for new leaders. The coach noted leaders are stepping up, especially when it comes to noticing who is not attending the workouts. So they’re contacting their teammates and encouraging them to attend.

“We’re in the infant stages of that process,” he said.

He understands why some are apprehensive to attend, adding it’s because the Mustang strength-and-conditioning program is designed to get maximum return in a short amount of time.

“We worked them hard in the spring,” Draper said. “In the summer, you’re working them hard. But you’re doing it in a sense of urgency. Sometimes you gain strength over the summer. But you want them to work so when the fall (training camps start), they’re in shape. We have young kids. They’re positive for each other, and they push each other during drills.”

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