The Manitou Springs High School JV football program is moving forward this fall despite a smaller roster than past years. Coaches and administrators are working to give younger players a chance to play while keeping the program going.
Assistant coach Riley Gregory believes that the small roster has created both positives and challenges. “I think it’s a challenge, but I think it’s awesome for the kids that are playing because they get more opportunities in practice, they get more opportunities in games, and they just get a lot more reps to learn the game,” Gregory said. “Hopefully, in the long run, it’ll pay off with them moving from JV to varsity and having all that experience.”
Gregory feels that one problem they are going to face with a smaller roster is a lack of depth. “If someone gets injured, then we may not have someone to fill in or people are playing positions that they’re not used to,” Gregory said.
Before the JV roster came together, there were talks about not having a team at all this season. Gregory said the staff had prepared to keep players active in other ways if that was the case. “If there wasn’t going to be a team, we were just going to give those kids as many competitive reps at practice as possible,” Gregory said. “The alternative would be to get them into the varsity games as much as possible… one or two plays a game may have been it, but they’re still dressing out and getting ready to play.”
Head coach Matt Heinz is glad that players joined so the team could move forward with games. “The players we do have work very hard,” Heinz said. “I just wish a few more kids in school who aren’t in activities or athletics would join and be part of something special and do hard things. It is very easy to go home after school. It is hard to play football, so I have respect for the kids who can do that.”
Heinz added that the coaches would continue to train the younger players through lifting and practices no matter what. “Regardless, we will develop those kids. They lift four times a week, and we develop them during practice,” Heinz said, “but I would like to give them the reward of a game.”
Though the JV team is small, Heinz thinks that the players on the varsity team have stepped up as role models for the younger players. “I think they’ve welcomed them and they’re great leaders and are putting their arms around them and showing them the ropes of the school,” Heinz said. “I’m very proud of the leadership we’ve had in that regard. I do think, even though our record is 0-4, we have become a closer family every week.”
Athletic director Brandon DeMatto believes that maintaining sub-varsity programs is critical for building long term success. “When you’re looking to build programs, your sub varsity programs are super, super important,” DeMatto said. “At the end of the day, you know, it’s disappointing that our numbers are low at the sub varsity level for football. But I know Coach Heinz and his staff are working hard to try and improve the numbers there, and they’ve been able to get some kids since school has started to join up.”
DeMatto also mentioned how football participation is down across the country. “I think that from the grand scheme of things, there’s some concern about the amount of contact, and what that does from a head injury perspective,” DeMatto said. “But we’ve also noticed just kind of nationally, not just here in Manitou, but all across the state and the United States, numbers have been down in football in the last several years as well.”
The JV schedule follows varsity games this year with games being played on Mondays. “The first league game is scheduled for Oct. 6 at Florence High School,” DeMatto said.
While administrators focus on scheduling and long-term growth, the coaches have their attention on players that have already joined. “I think that the current JV players are incredibly tough and hard working and deserve nothing but respect,” Heinz said.
Overall, the group is looking ahead with excitement. “We just want more kids to experience football,” Gregory said. “A lot of the kids are super excited about the season, and are super excited about what’s to come.”
