Spring Fitness Testing, NFL HSPD Camp and Raffle

Players and Parents, Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend and reflecting on those have have served.  We had hoped to do our annual spring testing on June 2nd, however due to concerns with the Strawberry Festival at WHS and several of our players taking SAT's that day, we are going to postpone them.  We are planning on doing the last week on June when we will be getting together to help the Windham Wolverines put on their Youth Football Camp.  (good opportunity to get your community service hours in too)  I will have more details of when we will be doing that in a couple of weeks.
Before then we will be having our rookies (all incoming freshman and new players) coming in for their orientation of our weight room and summer lifting program and will give you an updated date for that soon.

Just a reminder that we need your NFL HSPD Camp paperwork in by Wednesday, May 30th!   See any of the coaches if you have any questions.
After the coaches meeting at Nashua on Wednesday, we will update the blog as to when we will do equipment handout and the bus pickup times. 

As I mentioned previously, the coaches are holding a Comedy Night Fundraiser and Silent Auction on this Friday, June 1st 7:30-10:30pm.  All players and parents are welcome to join us as we look to raise money for the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD).  For all current and incoming players, if you purchase your tickets this week from any of the coaches, they are buy one, get one free.  So for $15.00 you can two tickets to the show.  The show is at the Salem/Derry Elks Club. 

In addition to the silent auction, we are also going to be raffling off premier New England Patriots tickets.  We are in need of a couple of volunteers to help sell tickets at the Class Awards night tomorrow (Tuesday, May 29th) from 5:30-7:30pm.  You will get community service hours as well as free tickets, see me or email me if you are available to help out.

Thanks

-Coach Raycraft

JAGUAR FOOTBALL NEW STRETCHING ROUTINE?

Ray Lewis Leadership

             Want to be a Varsity Starter

for the Jaguars?

As many of you know, the eyes of the state and football programs everywhere are on you. Windham is fast developing itself as an elite program. As a whole, we are coming off a championship finalist season and may be one of the most athletic teams around.  We are moving up a division to DIV and will see and travel to teams we have not seen before.

With that comes a lot of internal competition. There are many starting positions that are going to be challenged and there are no guaranteed spots, just because you started last year does not mean you will start this year, which has to be earned.  For those that want to get on the field, the opportunity is yours, regardless of what grade you are in, if you earn it, you get it.  You are going to have to commit yourself to this program, work harder than you ever have before, and stay clear of any kind of negative influences that will come your way.

There are three things we as coaches use to evaluate you for a starting position here at Windham High School. Number one is Trust. If we can trust you, we can rely on you, and only if we can rely on you will you have any chance to start of this football team. For example, are you a guy who makes every practice and every workout? Are you a guy who stays away from trouble at school and at home? Are you a guy who can stay away from the drama that occurs at or outside of our school? Are you a guy who refuses to fail a class, will get help when needed and who we never have to worry about failing? Are you a guy who stays away from peer pressure? And more importantly, are you a guy who is strong enough to stay clean and take a stand against what you know is wrong? If all of this applies to you and we know we can count on you no matter what, then you are exactly what we are looking for in a starter. Just remember, if we can’t trust you the next two things don’t matter because trust is the foundation of any starter in our program.

Number two is Work Ethic. When you are at practice how hard do you work? Do you make sure to take care of all the things the coaches are telling you to do, even when it involves more effort or the coaches are not watching?  If you are an offensive back, do you carry the ball high and tight, absolutely refusing to go down or turn the ball over? If you are an offensive lineman, do you finish the block with all-out intensity and run through anything and everything that gets in your way? If you play defense, do you refuse to be blocked and have a non-stop motor, trusting your reads and keys and attacking any man who has the ball in his hands? In the weight room, do you go until failure and have someone push you to get that one last rep? Do you use good technique with maximum weight, always trying to get a little stronger, while ensuring that you not get injured? Do you do things on your own time after practice or at home – run sprints, stairs, do agility runs, run routes, catch balls, work on technique or get in the weight room? If you do all of this, you will earn every coach’s respect and at the same time significantly increase your chances to start or reach any other goal you may have for this season.

Number three is Ability. How good a football player are you? How do you compare to other guys playing your position on our team? How do you compare to the other guys we will be playing against this season? How well do you block, shed blocks, tackle, and break tackles? How well do you throw? Catch? How fast are you? How strong are you? How physical are you?, How hard do you hit? How well do you know your position and those around you? How coachable are you? These are all questions that will be answered on the field. Some of it has to do with what you are born with. But the beauty of it is that more comes from what you do with Number One and Number Two than anything else. In other words, showing up to everything we do and going all-out when you get there.

to check out great pictures by Mr. Lagos at

Our chances of winning the Division IV Championship are as good as any we will face. You are either with us or against us. In other words, you need to be on board 100% or you are going to tear away what our team is trying to accomplish. There is no one player that is going to make or break this team. But if you are with us 100%, you will be part of history and you will accomplish something that you will never forget. Football is a tough sport that requires a lot of mental and physical toughness, it is not for everyone. But if you commit to the program as the coaches have to you, you will see the rewards come playoffs.

Being part of this team is a privilege. There are thousands of student-athletes in the state that would like to be in your position. We are committed to developing a top-notch program that is known throughout the region. You have the top of the line equipment, dedicated coaches who have a combined 160 years plus of coaching experience, great facilities, still the only high school in the state that has a deal with UnderArmor© to provide us custom uniforms, state- of-the-art video scouting software, covered more in highlights on TV, newspapers online and radio than most programs that have been around many more years, and an instant respect from those who know you are playing football for Windham High School. In just our second year of varsity football, have already had college recruiters calling us looking for prospects. You have teammates, coaches and sports medical staff that care about you and are willing to sacrifice huge amounts of time to make your memories of WHS Football some of the best you will ever have. After spending time talking with coaches from all over, I am convinced we have one of the best off-season programs you can ask for, ensuring you become the best football player you can be. You need to take advantage of what you have in front of you. The time you are able to play football is short and it is going to be gone before you know it. Everyday that goes by without an all-out effort is wasted, and is a day you will never get back. Some of you will never understand what I am talking about, or when you do I will be too late. For those of you that do, the sky is the limit. Challenge yourself everyday. Take this challenge as far as you can take it. You and only you will see, your time here at Windham High School will be one of the best times, if not the best time, you will ever have in your life.
 

“There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.” “Remember

Safe Sports Network at NHMI Free Physicals!

WHS FREE PHYSICALS!

If you are playing Football (or any WHS Sport) you must have an annual physical after June 1st of that year to be eligible to participate in athletics at WHS!

This is one of the resources we have with our Sports Medicine Team, in addition to our Athletic Trainer, Team Physician and team of medical personnel, we get free physicals!

Take advantage of this and be all set for the start of the summer workouts and for the season.
The link for the form is below for you!

Free Physicals

Salem and Windham Physicals: June 12, 2012 5:00pm

Once a year in early June, the Safe Sports Network offers student athletes state-of-the-art sports physicals free of charge at both the Apple Manchester and Salem Sports & Rehab Clinics. This evaluation includes an extensive look at the athlete's medical history and present physical condition, and several tests to determine if the athlete can safely participate in their sport.
Pre-registration is required. Please download the appropriate sports physical application form for where you would like to receive your physical.

Salem and Windham Form (Physicals held June 12 at Salem Sports & Rehab/NH Orthopaedic Center, 13 Red Roof Ln, Salem) NOTE: Salem High students should complete the form provided by the school!

“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character”

- T. Allen Armstrong

How are you preparing for DIV?

Our weight room is open M/W/F 2:30-4:30pm

Coach Byrne is a certified Strength and Conditioning Coach and is in there each of those days, take advantage of his knowledge and get in there and prove to yourself and your teammates you are a contributor! 

A few weeks ago, myself, Coach Byrne and Coach Blair attended a Coaches Clinic and heard Coach David Jenkerson Jr. speak, the Head Football Strength Coach.  He shared with us a link to their website, on there you will find hundreds of lifts, speed drills and pictures, explanations of each and videos for proper lifting techniques.  Many of the same things we are already doing, but if you question a technique or need to see an exercise performed or just get tips on sports nutrition, this is an great site to get important information.  Here is the link and I have also added it to our links list. 

 Dartmouth Football Strength Training Link

The Friends of Jaguar Football are planning their first main event to have players, cheerleaders, 
band members, coaches and parents 
all meet and kickoff the season.  
The Football, Cheerleading and Band Members will all be officially introduced for the first time!  Save the date, its the night before our final scrimmage as we prepare for the road back to the playoffs!

Announcing the

1^st Annual WHS Jaguar Football

GRIDIRON GALA

Presented by the

Friends of Jaguar Football

Thursday August 23, 2012

6:00pm-10:00pm

Castleton (92 Indian Rock Road, Windham)

Come meet the WHS Football Team and

Get to know ALL of the parents and coaches!

DJ and Dancing*Appetizers*Cash Bar*Raffles* and Much More!

Stay tuned on dates for 
TICKET SALES- GO JAGS!

What are you doing to make yourself and your team better?  

If you are not sure, you can guarantee your opponents are!

“Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Upcoming Important Dates and Camps

UNH Granite State Players Clinics
On Friday June 1st the coaching staff from UNH will be holding a one day clinic at Nashua South High School.  The cost is only $15.00
4:30pm registration
5:00pm Offensive Skills
6:00pm Defensive Skills
7:00pm 7 on 7
and Pass Rush and Pass Pro

This is a Cleats and Shorts only Clinic

Windham Football Fitness Testing Day
and Team Meeting
Saturday, June 2nd
More information coming!


NFL HSPD Football Camp
The NFL HSPD Football Camp will be going on June 4th to 8th again this year at Nashua South High School.  This is a FREE camp sponsored by the NFL and National Guard and we will be traveling over to the camp togeher by bus.  Be sure to get your paperwork by 5/30 to be eligible to attend.  Paperwork can be found on the Windham Jaguar Boosters website on the documents link or by seeing Coach Raycraft, Coach Byrne or Coach Blair.

Equipment will be handed out for the camp in the afternoon on June 4th.

 

For more information on football camps, check out the link to the right for camps

From Coach Moore's site (I told you to check it out!)  

Vanderbilt Football Creed

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR OPPONENT
WORK ON YOUR WEAKNESSES UNTIL THEY BECOME YOUR STRONG POINTS
REMEMBER THAT A GREAT EFFORT IS USUALLY THE RESULT OF A GREAT ATTITUDE
DEDICATE YOURSELF TO A MIGHTY PURPOSE.
WIN WITH HUMILITY, LOSE WITH GRACE
IGNORE THOSE WHO DISCOURAGE YOU
WORK TO IMPROVE YOUR MORAL AND SPIRITUAL STRENGTHS AS WELL AS YOUR PHYSICAL ONES
REMEMBER THAT HOW YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF OFF THE FIELD IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS HOW YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF ON THE FIELD.
TALENT IS GOD GIVEN—BE HUMBLE
FAME IS MAN GIVEN—BE THANKFUL
CONCEIT IS SELF GIVEN—BE CAREFUL
DON’T ASK TO BE DEPRIVED OF TENSION AND DISCIPLINE–THESE ARE TOOLS THAT SHAPE SUCCESS
DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE, WHEN IT HAS TO BE DONE, AND AS WELL AS IT CAN BE DONE
REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING TO IMPROVE, YOUR COMPETITION IS.
ALWAYS GIVE YOUR BEST.
PRACTICE LIKE A CHAMPION
PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION

Link to Vanderbilt Football Creed Video 

Help Support The Children's Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) by Sponsoring Scott Priestley Jr.

Jaguar Football Senior Captain, Scott Priestley Jr. has completed his playing time here at Windham High School but he has become the team's first selection to the elite East All-Star Team.  The First Annual CHad East vs West All-Star Football Game will take place at UNH on June 23rd.  Please consider helping Scott reach his goal of raising $500.00 for this very important organization and be sure to purchase your tickets to see that game at Ticketmaster.com

Scott Priestley Jr. Sponsor Page

Want to know the practice and game schedules?

Jaguar Football Summer and Practice Schedule

Check this out for our tentative schedule for the summer and season games and practices!

Information at Windhamjaguars.org at the varsity football page in the documents.  The link is below for the  Windham Boosters site for Football

Weight Room is now open M/W/F 2:30-4:30pm!

Buzz For Bucks!

A Message From Coach Byrne:

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to get the word out to the team that on MONDAY MAY 21st, my advisory is running the Buzz for Bucks fundraiser again this year.  We are teaming up with the Pantene Challenge, where girls donate their hair to cancer patients.  Buzz for Bucks gets the guys involved, and all you have to do is raise $20 and volunteer to get a buzzcut on the day of the event. The more football guys we have in the event, the better.  Let's make sure that the school and the community sees football players doing the right thing and being good people throughout the entire year.  Here are the steps to take:

1. Come by my office and get a signup sheet.  If you are under 18 your parents have to fill out a section as well.
2. Once you return the signup sheet to me, I will give you a "piggy bank" that you can take around school to collect small donations.  Teachers and other students are always willing to help
3. Once you raise 20$, bring the donations to me and I will log it so we know how much each person has raised (you can raise more than $20 if you would like!)
4. Show up on May 21st and get your head buzzed by a friend, teacher, or professional hair stylist.  The donations will be given to the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth and the American Cancer Society.

Thanks for your help.  It means a lot to know that our players help people who are less fortunate.  It really helps us to become a stronger program when we do things like this.

Go Jags,

Coach Byrne