Dayton Flyers

Aug. 21, 2009

Waking up at 5:30 a.m. after the first day of preseason was extremely difficult for my roommate and me. All I wanted to do was sleep through my alarm and forget that we had to run the dreaded Flyer Fitness Test! Here is the test: 800 meters in 2:45 with a minute rest, a shuttle in 31 seconds, minute rest, a 400 meter dash in 1:09 then two more shuttles (only half way done!), another 400 meter in 1:13, shuttle, and finally the final 800 meters in 2:45.

As I was preparing for this challenge, all I could think about was Coach Currier's physical discomfort speech.

It stated that the feeling during the fitness tests is only a temporary discomfort that will vanish immediately after you take a nice hot shower. The feeling will be forgotten, but losing a conference game is a completely different feeling. We will remember losing during the season but forget about the physical discomfort during preseason. If we put in the work now, losing will never happen because we are prepared physically. Putting in the hard work might seem pointless now, but it will pay off during the A-10 championship game!

Being a freshman only added to the fear of the test, and it was just as difficult as the upper classmen said! By no means is it impossible, as (Ryan) Hartman proved, but it was by far one of the most difficult fitness tests I had ever taken! Even though I passed it by a slim margin, I was exhausted afterwards.

All I could think about after the test was the rest of the day which consisted of weights, a technical session, a lecture, and a tactical session. It seemed like the day would never end. They just continue into the next.

During all of the preseason days, the one thing I look forward to is the famous 15-minute power nap! They seemed to be rare but when time allows, they are amazing.

The lecture in the middle of the day usually interrupts this power nap, but the lecture was different, in a good way. We arrived at the meeting and the freshmen received their Nike Air Legend Studs! It was great. Better than the nap.

Overall the day was fantastic, but that's just because I love to train. The technical sessions are by far my favorite because you touch the ball a million times in about an hour. They consist of juggling, passing (one and two touch), driving balls, and Red Jersey challenges for points.

Today's Red Jersey challenge was juggling within a group of five to six players. The last group receives points and my group was victorious! The whole concept behind the Red Jersey creates a competitive atmosphere during all sessions.

It is a fantastic idea!