While you might think that fall sports are just kicking things off, in many ways, they are well on their way. Some sports, such as football, cheer, and volleyball, have been conditioning all summer and began official games the second week of school. Others started their tryout process the first week of school.

The early start means that by the time students return to school, sports are already deep into their season, having put weeks of preparation behind the scenes. Most school sports have a pre-season conditioning period, but fall sports are unique because of how early in the year they begin. Athletes in fall sports cannot condition during the school year, so they must take time out of their summer to prepare for their season.

Football

For football players, this meant committing to a demanding summer schedule that required both physical dedication and team spirit. Football players spent their summer break in the weight room or on the field, practicing four days a week. They practiced 10 hours a week, splitting that time between lifting with Coach Vandyke and running drills on the field. The coaches encouraged their players to attend at least 75% of training days.

As noted on the team’s Instagram page, “A big part of winning together is working together… sweating together, spotting during lifts, flipping tires, etc.” One way the players displayed this when they spent a day picking up trash along Route 53 in order to do their part for the community.

“Summer conditioning brought the football team closer together, built up areas we struggled with last year, and improved my strength and agility, which are key to being on the field,” said senior varsity football player Chris Johnson.

Volleyball

Meanwhile, members of the volleyball team also dedicated their summer to training and preparation, making the most of every opportunity. Volleyball had open gyms and weight training two days a week, starting in June and continuing until the start of tryouts. Open gym was two hours long, with the first 30 minutes taking place in the weight room with Coach Vandyke, who chose to add to his duties as a football coach by helping out the volleyball team this year to improve multiple school sports.

Fluvanna also welcomed UVA assistant coach Jake Hong, who led a two-day camp. At this camp, the volleyball players were able to experience the coaching style of a Division 1 team by doing the same drills that UVA does in their gym, and they also got to experience what colleges are looking for in their recruiting process.

Aside from coach-led training, the players also took initiative and decided to add an extra day of training to their summer schedule. Every Wednesday morning, the players met at Lake Monticello from 8–10 a.m. for an opportunity to get more touches on volleyball before the season started. It let to opportunties that some players said they appreciated for helping them prepare for the regular season.

“Summer conditioning makes me stronger, improves my skills, and speedball is my favorite way to prepare for the upcoming season,” said sophomore varsity volleyball defensive specialist Charlotte Gifford.

Cheer

The cheer team was just as active over the summer, using the off-season to strengthen both their skills and team bond through camps, clinics, and leadership opportunities. Cheer had their tryouts in May, so they have been practicing all summer and building their team chemistry. This included practicing two days a week for an hour and a half each day. They hosted multiple clinics and camps this summer as well.

Cheer athletes not only got to attend camps to improve their skills,but also got to act as coaches and role models for younger cheerleaders. For example, JV attended a Universal Cheerleading Association camp to build a strong foundation for the rest of their high school career, while varsity cheer traveled to Blacksburg, VA, to attend a three-day Virginia Tech cheer camp. They got to experience college-level cheer and spend the night on campus. The varsity team not only brought home new skills but also a spirit stick and the “Most Improved” award.

“The cheer team worked very hard this summer and came home from Virginia Tech with new skills, and we are so excited to show them off under the Friday night lights,” said senior cheerleader Makayla Damron.

You can find Fluvanna schedules for football, volleyball, and other fall sports here.