The intriguing part of the NCAA’s six-week preseason practice plan for college football has begun.
After having in-person, voluntary workouts and mandatory sessions (phase one), Nick Saban and the University of Alabama football program started phase two of the plan on Friday.
For the Crimson Tide, this means up to 20 countable hours of athletic activities must be done — including a permissible, teaching walk through.
During this period, which ends on Aug. 6., Alabama will have eight hours of strength training and conditioning, six hours of walk throughs (with a football) and six hours of team meetings. The sports performance staff of David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea will continue to practice social distancing with players through workouts; however, the walk throughs shall provide more interest. Coach Saban and the players will be on the practice field with a football, as he teaches the fundamentals.
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Student-athletes will see first hand how Saban wants them attacking different formations, looks and schemes, whether it’s offensively or defensively. While these sessions will be done by position groups, it is an opportunity for true freshmen to learn what they missed from not having spring football (Coronavirus pandemic) and older players to improve upon their skills.
When it comes to the six hours of meetings, these range from team meetings and player meetings to one-on-one meetings between players and coaches. Also, the meetings will continue the film study that was done in phase one.
With the training starting to ramp up, everything is firm for now on the Southeastern Conference having a full schedule.
Should it remain that way, fall camp will start on Aug. 7 for the Tide.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
