Post by fwp on Mar 3, 2010 8:39:11 GMT -5
www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/mar/02/getting-set-to-strike-wenatchees-pro-indoor/?sports
WENATCHEE — In just two-and-a-half weeks, indoor football comes to Wenatchee.
But in a way, it already has.
With their American Indoor Football Association debut contest against the Yakima Valley Warriors looming on March 20, training camp is in full swing for the Wenatchee Valley Venom.
The Venom began two-a-days at the Wenatchee Valley Sportsplex on Feb. 22, and have had 26 players report to camp at some point since then. The team will continue two-a-days through Friday, and head coach Keith Evans expects another eight or nine players to report by the weekend.
The team will then practice once a day in preparation for their meeting with the Warriors in the Town Toyota Center.
Practices, which are currently being held from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., are open to the public. The Sportsplex is located at the foot of Fifth Street.
Evans said last week featured “a lot of instruction,” but this week is reserved for more “fine tuning.”
“We were just trying to implement philosophies (last week), plus working on offensive and defensive plays and conditioning,” Evans said. “(This week) we’re getting into the flow, picking up intensity as far as hitting and stuff.”
With a week of practice in the books, the team’s strengths are beginning to take shape.
“We have a lot of speed and strength in the skill positions,” said Evans. “We’re in good shape at receiver and DBs (defensive backs).”
The roster, which features about 20 players with previous professional indoor experience, will be trimmed down to a final 30 by March 15. The team will designate 20 players as active, five as inactive, and five as a practice squad.
Three players have yet to report because they are attending the NFL Combine camp at Indianapolis, which ends today.
Though some players on the roster lack experience in the indoor game, Evans said the rookies are learning quickly thanks to instruction from the coaching staff and experienced players like Phil Goodman, the team’s franchise player.
The Venom opened camp earlier than several teams in the AIFA. They began practicing 28 days before their opening contest, and Evans said Yakima Valley and the Wyoming Cavalry, last year’s runner-up, have yet to hit the practice field.
The team held a meet-the-players night last month. Part-owner Frank Kuntz of Wenatchee said then the franchise had sold about 1,000 season tickets.
The Venom will play 14 regular season games, and all will be against the AIFA’s other West Division teams (Yakima Valley; Wyoming; Ogden, Utah; San Jose, Calif.; and Wasilla, Alaska).
After the regular season, which runs through July 3, the top two teams in each division will play for the right to play in AIFA Bowl IV, which will be hosted by the East winner this season.
After the franchise’s inaugural game against Yakima Valley, Venom fans will have to wait more than a month before the team returns to Wenatchee.
Wenatchee Valley will play three road games and have the first of two bye weeks before the defending West champion Wyoming Cavalry ride into town on April 24.
Brent Stecker: 661-5222
WENATCHEE — In just two-and-a-half weeks, indoor football comes to Wenatchee.
But in a way, it already has.
With their American Indoor Football Association debut contest against the Yakima Valley Warriors looming on March 20, training camp is in full swing for the Wenatchee Valley Venom.
The Venom began two-a-days at the Wenatchee Valley Sportsplex on Feb. 22, and have had 26 players report to camp at some point since then. The team will continue two-a-days through Friday, and head coach Keith Evans expects another eight or nine players to report by the weekend.
The team will then practice once a day in preparation for their meeting with the Warriors in the Town Toyota Center.
Practices, which are currently being held from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., are open to the public. The Sportsplex is located at the foot of Fifth Street.
Evans said last week featured “a lot of instruction,” but this week is reserved for more “fine tuning.”
“We were just trying to implement philosophies (last week), plus working on offensive and defensive plays and conditioning,” Evans said. “(This week) we’re getting into the flow, picking up intensity as far as hitting and stuff.”
With a week of practice in the books, the team’s strengths are beginning to take shape.
“We have a lot of speed and strength in the skill positions,” said Evans. “We’re in good shape at receiver and DBs (defensive backs).”
The roster, which features about 20 players with previous professional indoor experience, will be trimmed down to a final 30 by March 15. The team will designate 20 players as active, five as inactive, and five as a practice squad.
Three players have yet to report because they are attending the NFL Combine camp at Indianapolis, which ends today.
Though some players on the roster lack experience in the indoor game, Evans said the rookies are learning quickly thanks to instruction from the coaching staff and experienced players like Phil Goodman, the team’s franchise player.
The Venom opened camp earlier than several teams in the AIFA. They began practicing 28 days before their opening contest, and Evans said Yakima Valley and the Wyoming Cavalry, last year’s runner-up, have yet to hit the practice field.
The team held a meet-the-players night last month. Part-owner Frank Kuntz of Wenatchee said then the franchise had sold about 1,000 season tickets.
The Venom will play 14 regular season games, and all will be against the AIFA’s other West Division teams (Yakima Valley; Wyoming; Ogden, Utah; San Jose, Calif.; and Wasilla, Alaska).
After the regular season, which runs through July 3, the top two teams in each division will play for the right to play in AIFA Bowl IV, which will be hosted by the East winner this season.
After the franchise’s inaugural game against Yakima Valley, Venom fans will have to wait more than a month before the team returns to Wenatchee.
Wenatchee Valley will play three road games and have the first of two bye weeks before the defending West champion Wyoming Cavalry ride into town on April 24.
Brent Stecker: 661-5222