Helmets? Pads? Sorry fans, not until August 30.
But summer football — sans helmets, pads and tackling — is in full swing for Malibu High. The Sharks are bolstering up for an exciting season by working out relentlessly in the weight room five days a week, practicing and competing in various passing events.
Football season begins in two months but why wait for the Friday night lights when you can play two-hand touch against tough competition from across the valley on any given day of the week?
All you need is a football, 14 players, coaches, a couple officials and you have the making of an exciting game of 7-on- 7 passing.
Last Saturday, Malibu participated in the Agoura Tournament at Agoura High School competing against Santa Barbara, Pacifica, Agoura and Newbury Park. The Sharks struggled against the stiffer competition, but nonetheless gained valuable experience.
“The progress is coming along real well,” Malibu coach Ray Humphrey said. “We have some new kids in so we are trying to develop continuity, have them play together and understand what their roles are. I am pretty pleased where we are going.”
After sustaining a tough campaign in 2013 where the team posted a winless 0-6 record, Malibu has rededicated itself to becoming stronger, quicker and faster through grueling weight room and conditioning sessions.
Typically, Malibu will practice on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2-5 p.m. with weight training at the beginning followed by practice on the field.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are usually earmarked for passing round robins or tournaments with weight training and conditioning mixed in.
Ah, the life of a football player: grinding away in the hot summer weather as aches and sores pile up on a daily basis.
“The summer has been really good,” senior running back Matt Vincent said. “We have all made improvements in the weight room and on the field. All of us are extremely excited and hyped for this upcoming season.”
Malibu has already taken part in 7-on-7 round robins at Viewpoint, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks.
Winning and losing are the least of the team’s concerns though, as the Sharks focus on improving team chemistry, quarterback and wide receiver timing, and defensive pass coverage.
“It’s been good because we learn our pass coverage against better athletes, faster receivers and really strong quarterbacks,” junior linebacker Alec Stevenson said.
Vincent, senior quarterback Dylan Lubell, senior Justin Baldinger and junior Luca Marinaro return with plenty of experience on offense from last season.
Stevenson, one of the top linebackers in the area, anchors the defense along with Vincent, Baldinger and Marinaro, who will see action on both sides of the ball.
“Those guys are older and wiser but we are still young with only four or five seniors,” said Humphrey. “We are still growing but I like our nucleus.”
An infusion of newcomers that includes Westlake transfer Cooper Richman, Santa Monica transfer Indiana McAlpine and Loyola transfer Matt Rafeedie will help out a Sharks program in need of depth. All three are juniors.
Rafeedie will add talent on the defensive side while Richman and McAlpine bring versatility to the wide receiver position.
“The aggressiveness and speed from our wide receivers will open up the middle of the field,” Humphrey said. “We have threats now which will allow us to go vertical. That’s a very big positive for us.”
Playing in 7-on-7 contests, bulking up in the weight room and practicing should benefit a program looking to turn around last season’s results. The regular season opener versus Santa Monica is just around the corner.
“We have put last year behind us and are trying now to get stronger and faster and be in shape for the season,” said Stevenson. “We will be ready.”
Next up for MHS is the Rio Mesa Tournament on July 12.
