For Shelbyville football to regain its winning ways, a focus on youth development is key.
On Wednesday, the three-day Shelbyville Golden Bears Youth Football Camp closed out on the football program’s practice field behind the Shelbyville Middle School.
“It’s been great,” said new Shelbyville football head coach Scott Fitzgerald. “We’ve had over 80 kids here every day. The kids were excited and that’s the biggest thing.
“We got out here and did a little bit of football. We showed them some drills and some things they needed to do and some things they needed to work on. We played a little ‘Bear Ball’ and did an obstacle course today and the kids really enjoyed that. When the kids leave here and they are sweating and they are tired, I know we have done a good job.”
Fitzgerald is no stranger to Shelbyville football. A longtime assistant coach during the Patrick Parks era, he has been coaching at the middle school level in recent seasons. But with the resignation of Brian Glesing after two seasons in Shelbyville, Fitzgerald returns to lead the program that has won just three games since Parks retired after the 2017 season.
“We are really putting an emphasis on the elementary program this year and here forward,” said Fitzgerald. “This is what we really have to invest in and make sure us as coaches and the players are all investing with this group.
“With us practicing right next to them, we are going to make sure every day we are getting out here and making sure we are getting to know the kids even more. We will make sure (their) coaches have everything they need. I think we have some really good guys but some don’t have backgrounds in football, but we will make sure we give them all the tools they need.”
Fitzgerald praised the work ethic of the varsity football players, many of whom were helping instruct this week at the camp.
“We have had a fantastic summer,” said Fitzgerald. “I am so proud of these guys and the way they are working. I can’t ask for anything more.
“We come out of that weight room and the guys are wasted for the lack of a better word. They are so tired because they pushed it. They have been pushing in that weight room each and every day. The coaches have been in there. I couldn’t do this without the assistants we have here. The guys have had the excitement and the energy in there and that’s what we really have to have.”
The Golden Bears have two opportunities next week to put the pads on and get instant feedback as to their progression this offseason. On Tuesday, Shelbyville will scrimmage Franklin Community at 5:30 p.m. at Franklin College’s Faught Stadium.
On Wednesday, Shelbyville will participate in a 7-on-7 workout at Greenwood Christian at 6 p.m.
The football program is taking full advantage of a new 8,000-square-foot weight room and will soon have a new artificial turf playing surface to utilize at McKeand Stadium (photo).
“I don’t know any different right now,” laughed Fitzgerald when asked about the inconvenience of not having a varsity field to hold practices. “This is where I’ve always been anyway. We’ve always come out to the practice field so it has not been a big inconvenience. We have room to work. We have a lot of space out here anyway.
“Hopefully, (the varsity field) is done by Aug. 1. That is the date they gave us. If it is done by Aug. 1, we can get out there and have practices and really start getting after it.”
Shelbyville opens the 2023 football season on Aug. 18 at Greensburg, who is switching its football field to artificial turf this summer.
The home opener is one week later on Aug. 25 against Rushville.
Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email. Go to shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.
