Farmersville football players run during a drill in the strength and conditioning program on June 2. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media
By David Wolman
Participation in the Farmersville summer strength and conditioning and football skills sessions has increased exponentially during Zac Quinlan’s six years as head football coach and athletic director.
During Quinlan’s first summer at Farmersville, only 23 boys showed up.
That number has increased to a daily average of 120 this year, with an additional 60 girls entering seventh through 12thgrade participating in strength and conditioning sessions.
“To go from where we were six years ago to now is definitely a feeling that we are going in the right direction with this program,” Quinlan said.
Last week was the start of the football skills camp, which will last eight weeks, with participants getting off the week of July 4.
Campers spend 50 minutes a day working with the high school football coaching staff. They are split into position-specific groups. Quarterbacks will work on progressions and throwing mechanics. Linemen will work on their steps and hand placement. Running backs, wide receivers, linebackers, defensive backs and kickers will look to improve their individual skill set.
“With the UIL a couple of years ago allowing us to start working with the kids in the summer on skills, it gives us the ability to coach up the younger kids,” Quinlan said. “It allows them to learn our offense and defense, in general, so they can be ready when they are in high school.”
In addition to working on football skills, football players also work with Farmersville ISD athletic performance director Adrian Briones on their strength and conditioning. Briones is entering his second season in that role after working at several NCAA Division I programs.
“Our workouts are extremely challenging,” Quinlan said. “The kids have bought into the mindset of winning a workout. They have been working hard throughout the offseason and have done whatever Coach AB throws at them. They attack it and it do it well.”
Briones has tailored workouts to the girls who participate in strength and conditioning, with a big emphasis on jumping and lean muscle growth.
“He has them working on jumping and getting stronger, but not getting bulky like football players,” Quinlan said. “Since we brought in Coach AB last June, we have seen a big growth with the girls’ sports. He has tailored their workouts to what their weaknesses are. It’s been a big step forward, especially with the girls’ volleyball team. They will see a lot of growth from it.”
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