Eagles July Football Camp Focuses on Fundamentals

by John Unrein

July 23rd through the 27th starts to bring the football season further into focus for the Grain Valley Eagles.

This will be Head Coach David Allie’s fifth year at the helm. Previously, he spent fourteen years as the leader of the Raytown South program, where he enjoyed success, including getting to the Class 5 state championship game in 2008 and as well as the semifinals in 2009. Twice Allie has been the Kansas City Chiefs Missouri high school football coach of the year in 2008 and again in 2016.

“Win the Day” is a common motto heard at camp from Coach Allie, his staff, and the players. The intent of

the phrase is trying to reinforce the concept of one hundred percent effort, one hundred percent of the time. Coach Allie is promoting that “success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. At the end of each workout session, we let players determine if they have Won the Day or not.”

Winning the day was apparent with the emphasis placed on football fundamentals during the first day of camp. The defense worked through pursuit drill, how to wrap up the ball carrier with your eyes up, forcing turnovers by punching out the football, and squeezing a ball carrier with two defenders during their

portion of practice. Players rotated through this circuit with their position group which permits efficiency and avoids boredom for the player along with each position coach providing instruction at a station.

Offensive time emphasized footwork drills for the quarterbacks, route running for the wide receivers, ball security for the running backs, and combination blocks along with chute work for the offensive line. Special teams did not escape the focus of Allie’s staff as stints were dedicated to timing kicking off, maintaining discipline or staying in your lane as a defender, as well as

catching and securing the football as a returner.

“It is important to stress fundamentals during camp week and to reinforce them repeatedly so that they become habit and can be used as a building block for season success,” Allie said.

The Eagles will be moving to the Suburban Conference this year. Joining Grain Valley in the Blue Division will be Kearney, Platte County, Smithville, Raytown South, Grandview, and Winnetonka. High school football games are just around the corner.