By Dean Eversole
MaxPreps.com
Becoming a champion in the sport of football starts long before August. The methods coaches use to get a jumpstart on fall camp are wide-ranging, but 7-on-7 competitions and team camps have emerged as popular preseason primers in the state of Ohio.
With the evolution of the high school game, the popularity of 7-on-7 drills has grown exponentially. The concept of these drills is to allow the skill players the opportunity to test their strengths against a live opponent.
The offense is made up of seven players, five of which are eligible receivers at any point.
Running plays are normally limited by possession and field is only 50 yards. Defensively, the teams are made up of three to four defensive backs and linebackers round out the seven. A play is blown dead when the ball carrier is touched by the defender. A series is completed by executing a set number of plays; the offense can score as many times as possible using the set number.
The 7-on-7 craze has swept through Ohio, becoming the main ingredient for the preseason workout regime. According to Ada coach Mike Fell, they are a very useful tool and his team takes full advantage of the opportunity.
"We are going to three (7-on-7) camps this year," Fell said. "They are enjoyable for the kids and it really provides the opportunity for the kids to work on individual skills."
For a club like Ada, led by Miami (Ohio) bound quarterback Zac Dysert and a playbook that revolves around the pass, 7-on-7 is the ideal training ground.
Allowed seven days of coaching combined in the months of June and July, the camps provide coaches a quick evaluation of their players. Numerous teams around the state are now sponsoring these camps. Teams spend the entire day competing in football-type atmosphere.
A number of colleges, including Miami, Ohio, open their facility, allowing teams and players the opportunity to play in a college setting.
With all the advantages offered by the 7-on-7 camps, there are pitfalls.
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage is found in the number of players, seven. With only seven players on the field at one time, at the bare minimum four players are left out and only a fraction of the team actually attends the camp.
For Versailles coach Jason Shondelmeyer, he has chosen a different, perhaps more traditional preseason route; overnight camp.
Shondelmeyer takes his Tigers to Wilmington College (Ohio) where they spend three days, working, sleeping, eating and living as a team.
"The benefit of a camp like this is getting away from everything and a ton of time," Shondelmeyer said. "From sun up to sun down we can work on football. But, we also do a lot of fun things together as a team."
Shondelymeyer switched from 7-on-7 to the camp a few years ago while at Arcanum and he feels the benefits were immense.
"I am really sold on going down there (Wilmington). Eventually, after you go a couple of times you can put in the entire offense and then spend two a day practices polishing it," Shondelmeyer said.
In only his second season with Versailles, Shondelmeyer's thinking is relatively new to Versailles, but fellow MAC opponent Anna also takes this approach. The benefit of these types of camps is that it involves the entire team. The downside is the cost and sacrifice that it requires for the players.
No matter the approach, one thing is clear; the high school football season extends beyond August through November. As the competitive level increases, becoming a champion requires more and more dedication from both coaches and players.
