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Closed Practices

Darkhorse#34

Well-Known Member
Jul 30, 2006
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Just curious with official practices starting soon how many schools do this? For those who dont do you guys normally go out and watch the first day of practice?first day of hitting? Midnight Madness etc
 
We usually have a big crowd at Shelby and usually a lot of media.

Thats good the community is involved....i dont agree with closed practices especially here at the beginning of the season...thats how it always was out here well until new staff put a new policy in place....dont think they mean any harm but i believe they unknowingly put a gap between themselves and the community shutting everyone out or atleast the ones the like to go out and watch
 
Loads of support locally when fans can go to the first day of practice?first day of hitting? Midnight Madness etc. In this age of video streaming and social media, nothing is a secret anymore, anywhere. Just saying......traditions go a long way and run deep.

Exactly i agree
 
The first couple days at Lincolnton are open. Parents bring their young children out to watch the first day of hitting. Do not know how the new coach will do things but the community has been very involved.
 
When Coach Lewis was at the helm, he had no problem with people coming out to watch practice. The only rules were to not talk to the players, not even the ones standing on the sideline on the practice field. During water breaks we could talk with the coaches and players. But new coaches have different methods.
 
Idk if they are closed this year or not, if someone goes out there, let us know if you get run off lol.
 
If you want to go to a practice go. We went to several last year. Never got asked to leave
 
If you want to go to a practice go. We went to several last year. Never got asked to leave

Oh!!!......i never attempted because they had it announced all over that practices were closed and if you showed up you would be asked to leave
 
I would say having an open practice does create more distractions for the kids. We allow our alumni to come out the first couple of days to watch and help if they so choose. I am a fan of it because it gives the kids perspective of tradition and keeps the community involved. As long as the kids are mature enough to know why they are there I am a fan of the open practice for the first week or so. Once the season starts stricter rules apply.
 
No such thing as an open practice at Mallard Creek. Family only unless Palmieri signs off.
I would say it is a little different for small town schools versus a national power. I don't blame Palmieri for having strict regulations at MC though.
 
I would say having an open practice does create more distractions for the kids. We allow our alumni to come out the first couple of days to watch and help if they so choose. I am a fan of it because it gives the kids perspective of tradition and keeps the community involved. As long as the kids are mature enough to know why they are there I am a fan of the open practice for the first week or so. Once the season starts stricter rules apply.

I agree with it being more private after the first couple weeks especially once school starts back etc.....but the first couple days everyone should be welcomed to watch...at Clinton we normally watch from the vistor bleachers next to the practice field not really in the way so no distraction to the players or the coaches.......as a former player i like to check out the first day and maybe the first day contact(tackling) is allowed or if there was like a midnight madness event or something
 
Thats what im saying it doesnt have to be a season long thing first 2 weeks tho keep it open....like.you said never more than maybe 12-15 spectator's.....last time i went 2017 Dr. Miller was out there a couple boosters one of the players grandparents and myself probably a dozen people altogether....i like to see the first day to get a feel for our numbers and kinda see whos out there and whos not....usually come back the next week once hitting begins and watch then thats pretty much it for me until the scrimmages/Jamboree etc
 
Let's be real here; previously, after the first day of practice, the first day of hitting; fans arent really interested in coming out, unless a known major change has come about. No one is going out on the practice field, or interacting g with any players or coaches. The viewing practice interest dies after the first couple of weeks. We're talking about initially maybe a couple of dozen people, waning off to 5 or 6.
I’m just commenting on what I experienced when I used to go to Clinton practices, even after they started hitting. Please don’t tell me what I know; I know I was on the practice field; I know there were more than 5-6 people there, one of them was the esteemed Dale Johnson. He and I would stand beside each other during practice. You’re correct in that the number does wane a bit after the first couple of weeks, but there were way more than 5-6 people.
 
No reason for fans to be allowed at practice. If you want to do a first practice open house deal I could buy that but otherwise practice is for players and coaches. Parents should always be allowed but I have seen that get out of hand as well.
 
@Wizard of the East i noticed that last year aswell no stats were reported to local papers or posted on maxpreps.....ima record stats for my on personal info this season and share it with the radio guys ill post em up here aswell if you wanna know.......as far as this topic is concern lol im done talking bout it seems like a losing battle if this is what the staff wants now oh well.....just not a good look as far as community involvement goes....looks like tradition has finally graduated lol
 
What's with the official DarkHorse Football facebook page. Wouldn't that be a good place to post team stats?

Idk only stats i saw posted last season were the first 2 games and i believe thats because fayobserver was present at Cape Fear and the bladen journal took stats for our game at East Bladen....other than that nothing
 
Blue and Gold22, there's no reason for fans not be allowed to practice. If they disrupt practice they should be asked to leave. School grounds are public property, but besides that, it would seem one would want keen interest in the team.
FOOTBALL FANATIC. your comment "Please don’t tell me what I know; I know" is perplexing. I may have been going to practices if I wanted before you came into the world. I have no doubt you may have been on the practice field, and yes DJ was almost always there when he was healthy, but this was not the norm. Most people watched from the top of the visitor side bleacher, why? because you could see better. After the week or so of practice, it never involved more than 5 or 6 people and I never saw anyone ever interfere with practice.
I think there should be more transparency in more ways than one. For instance, I rarely saw and read about any stats about the team. This also adds interest to the team. When the coach or team needs something fan/community interest looms large. Sure the booster club is supportive but the Booster's Club has to support every sport. I know!
Championships, wins and losses, player development are important but public relations is just as important.

Everyone in attendance comes equipped with a video camera. How in the hell do you manage complete unknowns in the stands at practice.

Games are for fans....practice is for coaches and players
 
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Everyone in attendance comes equipped with a video camera. How in the hell do you manage complete unknowns in the stands at practice.

Games are for fans....practice is for coaches and players

Like someone said earlier its different in a small town like Clinton for the most part you recognize everyone either boosters,parents of kids on the team,or former players are out there watching for the most part i would guess its different out in Charlotte...but also i pointed out a program like Shelby can have open practices with tons of fans and media present and no one is worried about someone spying......we had open practices in Clinton for aslong as i can remember and if someone was out there "spying" lol im guessing they didnt do to good of a job
 
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I will be honest, I know little about Clinton football. Have they won alot of titles in the past 8-10 years?
 
I agree, some schools do a midnight madness kinda thing that is open to fans for first hitting practice. It's been my experience as well that as long as you are a parent of a player you are welcomed at any practice. I agree with alot of coaches to have closed practices. In the end it's the coach and his players on the field on game night and I believe most coaches like to keep that tight knit culture of your team being like a family.
 
Maybe that is why they are closing practices? What do places like Shelby and Crest do?? Just curious.

???? Like i said we been doing this for aslong as i can remember never been a distraction from winning....Shelby poster posted at the beginning of this thread the entire community and media is invited to watch their practices....so are you saying closed practices equal winning??? Cause thats freaking hilarious
 
I agree, some schools do a midnight madness kinda thing that is open to fans for first hitting practice. It's been my experience as well that as long as you are a parent of a player you are welcomed at any practice. I agree with alot of coaches to have closed practices. In the end it's the coach and his players on the field on game night and I believe most coaches like to keep that tight knit culture of your team being like a family.

Do the coaches and players play in empty stadiums???....better get comfortable playing in front of crowds cause thats what you doing on Friday Nights
 
I think im just going step away from this discussion with this....If having 15-20 spectator's watching a practice is a distraction to a team or coaching staff i hate to see how they feel when your on the road in hostile territory with a load crowd,cheerleaders,and a band......yall enjoy your seasons good luck to your respective programs
 
???? Like i said we been doing this for aslong as i can remember never been a distraction from winning....Shelby poster posted at the beginning of this thread the entire community and media is invited to watch their practices....so are you saying closed practices equal winning??? Cause thats freaking hilarious

No. Clearly the HC has made a change. I am gonna guess he did it for a reason and while I havent read the entire thread I havent seen where anyone posted the reason. Maybe he thought it was an added distraction. I have seen enough practices where even parents can be an issue though I get the passion of a small town football program is different.

I can tell you without question Palmieri and Brand ( Vance) wouldnt even consider it. I have seen college coaches tossed out for filming during practice at MC.

I dont know this for certain but I am gonna bet Knotts didnt allow open practices at Indy or DF.
 
I think im just going step away from this discussion with this....If having 15-20 spectator's watching a practice is a distraction to a team or coaching staff i hate to see how they feel when your on the road in hostile territory with a load crowd,cheerleaders,and a band......yall enjoy your seasons good luck to your respective programs
I think it's a good topic, I'm not for or against open practice. I just feel they're other avenues for fans to enjoy. Such as, 7on7's, jamborees, and scrimmage games. Some colleges that host high school 7on7 also have it coincide with big man camps. I'm sure players that attend the big man camps offer some observations they saw in 7on7 of a rival team that attended.Stranger things have happened in high school football as far as there being a plant from a rival team attending an open practice (think NE Patriots) (in Clinton's case WRH)I think we can agree there. If a coach has that type of paranoia I think its justified. At the same time if a known fan by the coach wants to see practice I really dont see the harm in that.
 
I think it's a good topic, I'm not for or against open practice. I just feel they're other avenues for fans to enjoy. Such as, 7on7's, jamborees, and scrimmage games. Some colleges that host high school 7on7 also have it coincide with big man camps. I'm sure players that attend the big man camps offer some observations they saw in 7on7 of a rival team that attended.Stranger things have happened in high school football as far as there being a plant from a rival team attending an open practice (think NE Patriots) (in Clinton's case WRH)I think we can agree there. If a coach has that type of paranoia I think its justified. At the same time if a known fan by the coach wants to see practice I really dont see the harm in that.
Just to clarify I am not saying WRH did this. I'm just putting it into perspective for darkhorse. So spare me the shade WRH faithful.;)
 
Y'all know I'll pick on Clinton football every chance I get. Darkhorses are the enemy. But! Your new coach has come in and had to implement a different culture. I think he will be competing for Championship this year and beyond. Think y'all should appreciate and support this guy.
 
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Maybe that is why they are closing practices? What do places like Shelby and Crest do?? Just curious.
Places like Clinton, Shelby, Crest, Lincolnton, and other small town teams typically keep them open the first couple of days because of tradition.
 
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