No introduction was necessary when Amy McNew conducted her first camp as Lady Tigers’ head volleyball coach.
“They know me pretty well, and I know them,” said McNew, who takes over after five years as Debbie James’ assistant coach. “There’s not an awkward transition.”
That wasn’t the case at the football field. Coach David Williams held his first camp as head coach after taking over for Chris Edwards.
Williams, who is making his fifth different stop at a SCA school, has spent the summer becoming familiar with his new team and players. After an offseason of weight lifting and speed training, Williams got his first work with the Tigers on the gridiron during a weeklong camp.
“The kids seem to be receptive to what we’re teaching,” said Williams, who last coached at Ava two seasons ago. “As long as they give me good effort, you can work with that and hopefully make progress.”
Williams said he spent the week focusing on his offensive scheme. On Monday, the team worked on defense for the first time in anticipation of Wednesday and Thursday’s camp in Bolivar.
The lone negative from camp was a lack of participation. Williams, who said increasing the team’s thin roster was his top priority when he was hired, said he averaged 36 kids during camp. He expects 35-40 will play this fall.
“We’re a little disappointed in our numbers,” he said. “But that’s something we’ll have to deal with. Depth will be an issue. We know that.”
Next week is a mandatory dead period. The Tigers begin fall practice at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9, at the Big Red Building.
Inside sweltering Hiett Gymnasium, McNew ran her players through a series of individual and team drills at last week’s camp. She said 20 players participated.
After five days of camp, the team played together Saturday in Branson. McNew believed her team played strongly after a week together at home.
“They worked hard and showed up with positive attitudes,” she said.
McNew, who led conditioning and open gyms during the summer, said her team would have next week off. Like the football team, practice begins Aug. 9. It will run from 5-8 p.m. daily.
McNew said she is focused on her team’s mental approach as the new season approaches.
“I wanted the kids to learn, relax and have confidence,” McNew said. “That’s the main thing with this group. They are athletically gifted and can do everything that we ask. We just have to get them to believe that they are good.”