Handing Off

There was a practice I thoroughly enjoyed.  It was on the Redford Union High School football team.  It was late August or early September.  Part summer, part fall.  It was a rainy day.  Our practice field was off to the side of the regular playing field.  It was muddy.  There was a puddle.  A BIG puddle. 

Now understand we were high school juniors and seniors.  Almost adults.  Licensed to drive.  There were around thirty-five of us mature young young men.

Coach said we needed to practice fumble recovery. 

And threw the ball into the middle of the puddle.  We all yelled "FUMBLE!!!" and raced after the ball.  Can you imagine thirty-five of us splashing in that puddle trying to get control of the slippery ball?  Fifty years later I still smile when I remember that practice.

Fumbles are a part of football.  A bad part for your offense.  A good part for your defense. 

If you follow the game, you know the center passes the ball to the quarterback and the quarterback hands it to a running back.  Something as simple as handing a ball to a teammate shouldn't present much of a problem.  But it does.  First, the quarterback has to control the ball and lay it into the runner's hands. 

The process is complicated because the runner is running.  So the quarterback has to hit a moving target.  

It is further complicated by there being three hands involved.  Two belong to the runner, the third to the quarterback.  The quarterback has to hand the ball to the runner and pull her (or his) hand away, avoiding getting tangled with the runner's arm.  The runner crosses her arms to create a nest for the ball.  The higher arm is on the quarterback side - if quarterback is on your left, your left arm forms the top of the "nest."

Then the runner has to secure the ball.  She has to quickly get control of it because she is running as fast as she can toward the line of scrimmage.  Toward the defense.  Toward hostiles who want to knock her down.  Who would love to dislodge the ball from her grasp. 

One player getting the hand off, two others in the background
watching, preparing for their turn to try it.

Easier said than done.  So the Outlaws practice handing off.

And if the coach has done his job, this drill is taken seriously.  Not just for the one receiving the hand off but for the others as well.  Studying the teammate's technique.  Preparing mentally for taking a turn.

My turn.  Love the facial expression.  She knows this is important.  She is concentrating. 

Arms crosses creating a nest for the ball.  Coach playing
quarterback and sliding it into the nest.

Focused on getting the ball, arms getting into the
proper position.

This another try with the same running back.
She has it in her hands. 

Practice practice practice. 

Got it.  Both hands protecting it.  Come on tacklers, do your best.  I'm taking this ball
all the way to the end zone and you can't have it.

Secure the ball.  Get it firmly in control before you start getting hit by opponents.  That's the point of this drill. 

I've said that practice gets boring for me.  Drills get old.  Doing the same thing over and over and over.  That is important for the players, boring for the photographer.  

But maybe if the coach would do what my high school coach did all those years ago. Recognize that sometimes the ball does get loose.  Maybe the Outlaws won't fumble. That's why they practice hand offs.  But the other team might lose control.  If the ball comes loose it is a free ball.  Who recovers it gets to keep it. 

We practice everything else.  Let's practice fumble recovery.  Don't even wait for a rainy day and puddles and mud.  (Though that would be fun.)  Just throw the ball and yell "fumble."  I suspect I'd get some great photos as thirty or so Outlaws battle for the ball.

All these years later as I fondly recall that wonderful muddy practice, I wonder why nobody got drowned.  Guess the puddle wasn't very deep. 

Then I wonder about how we handled those muddy uniforms and soggy shoes.  I do remember going to the shower with the uniform still on.  But that only got some of the mud off.  Who did the serious cleaning of our practice uniforms?   Our school didn't provide that service.  Must have been mom.  Moms of the players. 

Being a mom is hard work.

Outlaws, do you do your own laundry?

Race to Nowhere

Some posts to this blog haven't been totally serious.  Those are my favorites.  I'm not a serious person.  I'm always seeking funny.  Sometimes finding funny where it isn't.  I'm having a serious week so I tried extra hard to find funny for this post. 

Sometimes funny is in the action.  Sometimes it is just an accident of when the camera stops the action.  Sometimes both. This is a drill conducted during warm-ups. I caught this Outlaw in a mid-execution. Looks a little funny but she's doing what the DI (drill instructor) told her to do.

Not sure I could do that.

A half second later she would have looked more like this.  Not a whole lot better.  In my many years of watching football games I can't recall ever seeing a play where anyone raised a foot and reached out to touch his/her toe.

Well, punters.  Almost.

Warm-ups take players through strange positions that must make sense to the DIs but don't make much sense to me.  But do strike me as funny.

Reminds me of Tim Tebow.  Just a little.

I guess this a stretching drill and I've read that stretching before athletic activity is a good thing. 

They were running laps - more on that later - and just
stopped to... well, to do whatever they're doing.

There must be a reason for this...

We used to call this Jumping Jacks.  When the ladies do it is it Jumping Jills?  Sorry.  Silly.

Certainly she knows that shoulder pads are
worn under the jersey?

It isn't only the weird exercises I find amusing, standing there behind my camera looking for some good action to capture for posterity. I've spent a couple recent posts being amused at the way certain players dress, the socks they wear. I won't spend much time on that today but I did find it interesting that some players wore their shoulder pads on the outside.

And I wondered why.  Is it that we haven't gotten to the part of training where we explain how to wear a uniform?  Rookies might not know.  But this player doesn't look like a rookie to me.  She looks a lot like a quarterback and quarterbacks tend to be smart.

A friend also wearing the pads outside.  Is this a case where
one doesn't know and the other is acting the same so the
unknowing one won't be embarrassed?

Of all the silly things we do, I've always thought running is the silliest.  Experts on fitness will say I'm wrong.  I guess I am.  But someone watching adults, even young adults like the Outlaws, running the perimeter of the football field seems a waste.  Like a race to nowhere. 

Not a real race.  No one will win a gold medal.  Just running to be running. 
Racing to nowhere.

Of course this isn't a race to nowhere. This is a race to excellence. This is a race to the playoffs. 

Practice is Boring (for me)

Coach Bobbie closed practice Saturday telling the team they've just finished their eighth practice.  "And look at how much we progressed!"  Bobbie gets excited a lot. 

I've been to three practices.  After awhile it gets dull.  Line players running around plastic garbage cans or jumping over tackling dummies.  Not hitting anyone.  Just practicing moves, improving mobility.  Or pushing a truck around the parking log to improve strength.  First time it was fun to watch.  Now, not so much.

Push the truck up the parking lot.

Push it back.  How can both ways be up hill?

Concentrating just as if this were in a game.

The passing practice still keeps my interest.  A little.  Trying to focus the camera on the receiver, trying to snap the shutter just when she catches the ball, trying to catch interesting facial expressions.  Fun but after awhile it gets dull.

Working hard, concentrating.  Practice is serious business.

I do have a confession.  Sometimes the receivers miss the catch.  I only post successful receptions but I have several photos where the ball escapes the receiver's grasp. I don't post them because I'm committed to present the team at it's best, looking good. I don't want to record failures. 

But maybe I should.  Maybe I should point out how hard these women are working at mastering a difficult sport.  The receivers race down the field time after time after time, working on the skills involved in pulling the football out of the air into her arms. 

Practice is hard work.  The Outlaws are working hard. Three times a week, three hours each, running, throwing, catching, (and often missing), building strength, improving reflexes and mobility, learning the techniques, practicing the skills. 

Don't like the mouthpiece.  Another unnamed receiver -
I'll get names eventually.  She impresses me with a stoic
focused approach, running patterns, not showing a lot of
emotion but working working working.

Eyes on the ball.

They are resolute.  A receiver looks like she's limping.  Coach worries.  Are you okay?  Need a break.  No, she insists.  Walking without a limp to the back of the short line, ready to take her next turn.  Another receiver is bent over but out of the line of sight of coaches and teammates.  I recognize the posture, trying to catch her breath after running dozens of pass routes. 

I haven't heard a single player grumble.  I haven't seen anyone dogging it.  Whatever the coach asks, the players do.  They're here to develop into professional football players.  And they're doing whatever it takes. 

There was one bit of fun for the photographer.  Coach Lance was helping Bobbie teach pass defense.  Explaining the technique for keeping track of where the receiver is, knowing when you can look back at the quarterback.  If you check the quarterback at the wrong time the receiver may change route while you're not looking.  Coach decided to demonstrate.  He played receiver.  One of the Outlaws - sorry I'm sooooo bad with names - defended.  It was serious competition.  Lance is good.  GOOD! 

I don't know whether the defender got a piece of the ball or it was just mis-directed.
The key, as coach Bobbie and teammates said, is it went down as an incomplete
pass.  That's the goal of the defensive secondary - incomplete passes.

They're having fun.  Loved the friendly little "gotcha" poke to coach's back. 

But the pass was incomplete.  And everyone cheered for the successful Outlaw. 

Even Coach Lance. 

Especially Coach Lance.

The season opener is April 14 at home against the Tulsa Threat.  This is February 12.  That means the Outlaws have eight weeks to prepare.  Eight weeks, three practice days each. 

When you see the team take the field on April 14, please give a mighty cheer.  They will have been practicing and practicing and practicing - even on cold Saturdays when the photographer was bored.

Little People

At every practice and every game there are lots of photo opportunities that have little to do with football.  With a digital camera I can shoot hundreds of photos without worry about the cost of processing - because there is no film to develop, no processing expense. 

At every practice and every game are little people.  Children of the players, children of the fans.  A photographer's secret - photos of little people always make the photographer look good.  Today I'm getting away from fashion photography and football action.  Instead I'm posting pictures of the little people. 

I love editing to close-up photos.  Facial expressions are
fascinating, especially when the subject isn't aware of the
camera.

She has picked up one of the blocking pads and is
ready to start a workout.

There were two dogs, one white, one black.  Camera's have difficulty handling wide range of contrast in the same photo.So the black dog isn't as visible as the white.  The dogs were excited.  The young lady wanted to befriend them but also wanted to keep all of her fingers to herself.   I admired her caution in approaching the pups.  Not sure she qualifies as "little people."  I'm terrible at guessing people's ages. 

While the players and coaches are working on the field, there is always a group of supporters
keeping occupied on the sideline. 

Love the jeans.  A fashion
statement, right?  And I said I
was going to stop with the fashion
stuff.

Somewhere he has found a snack.  Not sure exactly
what is in those bags but I am sure it is snack
food.  Seemed a good idea after a couple hours
 of shooting photos.  But he wasn't offering to share
with me.

Not sure what she's doing here.  It looks like
skateboarding without the skateboard.

As you have already observed, I like close-up photos.  Many of the photos you see started with the entire person in the picture and then were cropped on my photo editor until I got an image I really like.

This is a close-up created from a full person photo. 
When people don't know they're being photographed
their facial expressions are intriguing. 

I post photos because I like them.  And because I think the subject in the photo looks good.  I realize that what I like may differ from what the player/parents like.  If there is ever a photo posted her that you do not like, please let me know and I'll remove it.  This blog has two aims - to promote women's professional football by presenting it in a positive light, and to entertain me,  and hopefully you, with cool photos and silly prose.  I absolutely never want anyone to be unhappy with anything I post.  Be sure to let me know if I slip up.

Dress for Success - Part Two - Footwear

I'm bigger than average.  Shopping for me is less a matter of fashion and more a search for size.  Recently I shopped for shoes at Academy Sports and Outdoors.  My approach is to look for bigger shoe boxes and then plain looking shoes inside.  Not gaudy.  Not in my shoe size.  Large gaudy is worse than regular gaudy and I don't like regular gaudy. 

My shopping trip was a success.  I found a pair of plain white walking shoes that fit.  I bought them and brought them home.  And my wife - who has a very hard life living with me - gently told me the Velcro ties are really not something I want to wear at this stage of life.  "They are intended for the elderly, folks who have trouble tying laces."  Now some, including the calendar, may suggest I fit in that elderly class.  But I don't need to advertise it.  And I don't have difficulty tying laces. 

I immediately sought a second opinion.  Actually a lot of second opinions.  I  posted the issue on Facebook.  And the reply was unanimous.  If I like the shoes, don't worry about whether they are stylish.  And I like them.  Because they fit and aren't gaudy.

A couple posts back addressed the way Outlaws dress for practice.  I admitted to not being fashion minded but having noticed interesting practice attire, I suggested the topic of football fashion calls for our attention with more posts.  I'm beginning to have second thoughts about that "more" idea.

Notice the black pair with white stripes.  I refer
back to them in the text that follows.

But here we go. (This may be the last on the subject of football fashion.)

Today is about socks.  Some of you may recall a posting I did some time back about socks.  I had a lot of fun with it.  I figured maybe there is more fun to be had so I assembled a small collection of socks photos. 


I guess I should comment on the socks pictured here in terms of fashion statements.  I will try.  But it would be better  if you helped me out.  This blog does permit visitors to comment.  I'd love to hear (read) your comments. 

These socks interested me.  Do you notice anything?   Right.  They don't really match.  Kinda sorta but not really.  I suspect the player has another pair just like them at home.

I wondered if this is the same player as in the picture above.  If so, did she change during practice?  Or did I take these photos on different practice days?  We'll never know.

These socks match.  Even I can tell.  Well, I haven't counted diamonds to be sure both socks have the same number of black and white. I don't think that is necessary for a match.

I can't tell whether these match or not. 

As a fashion comment, I don't think I like the grays and blacks.  Whether they match or not.  Give me some color.

Like red!  That's better.  Don't you think?  And notice they match.  Not only do the socks match each other, they also match the gloves.  Knowing nothing about fashion I still feel safe saying this ensemble is an example of high fashion.

Paying attention to the way socks match each other and then also match other fashion accessories got me noticing shoes.  These socks didn't qualify for commentary but the shoes certainly do.  Most shoes aren't interesting but some are rather colorful, don't you think?   What do you call this color?  Kind of a fluorescent yellow.  Chartreuse?  Do you think they might influence the outcome in a game?  Maybe the defender will be so fixated on the shoes she'll forget to make the tackle?  Are they bright enough to temporarily blind opponents?  Are they legal?

Red and white make for nice colors.  I don't think this player is wearing socks, do you?  Looks like maybe leggings?  Is that what those things are called that are like pants but go all the way down to the feet?   Isn't it neat the way there is a Velcro flap over the laces.  The laces prove this is not an elderly player in spite of the Velcro.  The Velcro is intended to keep the laces in place so they don't come untied and trip the player in the middle of a game.  Very fashionable.

While I'm reluctant to make a judgement regarding the fashion represented by footwear pictured here, I do feel comfortable saying every player should wear something on her feet.

 Something more substantial than just socks. With everyone else wearing cleats, going unshod risks injury to toes.


When I started following the Outlaws, I fancied myself a sports photographer and commentator.  A lover of football.  I had visions of a business card with fancy words like "Official" and "Expert" and I dreamed of a career with the Outlaws being comparable to being an official photographer for the Dallas Cowboys.

What might have been.

Look at me.  I'm taking pictures of socks.  Shoes.  Commenting on fashion. 

Maybe it is time to sell my camera, put on my Velcro-tie shoes, and retire to a rocking chair.  What do you think?

Fund Raising Fun, Superbowl Party

Smelled so good!

I don't like parties.  I do like food. 

Yesterday was Superbowl Sunday.  Yesterday the Outlaws had a fund raiser party at Quinns Neighborhood Bar in Round Rock.  And you know, I was almost drawn into the party.  Photos don't capture the aroma of food cooking but that smell of good cooking was almost enough.

Quarterback Marisa Rivas posing
outside of Quinns for a future blog
player profile.

I was there early to interview  Quarterback Marisa Rivas and to shoot some photos - for this blog. She'll be one of my player profiles in the near future.  For the profile I use a photo of the player away from the football field. 

So I made the trip to Quinns and planned a quick visit, snap some photos of Marisa, ask a few questions to make the profile interesting.

And then I caught the scent of the fajitas. 

And then party people started arriving.  Nice people.  I like the Outlaws. 

I think they're singing. 

Fund raising is a fact of life for the Outlaws.  If you're a fan, feel free to contribute money.  When you hear about fund raisers, come on out. 

Participate.  It is cool to be able to go to a party (if you're normal and enjoy parties), sing along, enjoy fajitas and refried beans and your choice of beverage, socialize with interesting people, watch a game on large screen television - and all the while know you're helping the Outlaws cover the expenses of the 2012 football season. 

The players aren't paid for playing football.  In fact each player is responsible for generating income.  The team estimates the cost of the season - over $30,000!  And players are responsible to produce a pro-rata share.  Nearly $1,000 per player.  So the players arrange fund raisers like the Superbowl party.  Opportunities for fans to have fun while supporting the team.

If you're a fan of the Outlaws, if you want to promote opportunities for women in sports, consider responding to fund raisers.  Or consider sponsoring a player.  If you have a favorite player, contribute $$$ to the team in her name. 

Early arrivers already in a party mood.  You
can see pre-game stuff going on on the TV in
the background.

Fund raising can be fun.  Contributing to the Outlaws can be fun.  Visiting with nice friends before the game starts is fun..Watching the game on a large screen, fun.  And wasn't that a great game!

Hosting, welcoming.

I keep coming back to the chef.  I think maybe chef's are the most important people
in the world. 

Early arrivers.



These photos were all shot early in the party.  As I said, I'm not a party guy.  Anytime there are more than four people in one place, I get uncomfortable.  Unless I have my camera in hand and the people are playing football.   So I went home early.  But I think they give you a sense of just how much fun it can be to be involved in Austin Outlaws football.