Football and school starting up!

Hey everybody!

Yesterday I was finally cleared for practicing with the football team. Some exchange students are apparently not allowed to play in games, I got told I was. So everything's sorted out in terms of football!

There is an Arizona law (I've been told it's a law) that states you have to attend three practices without pads before you can participate in contact drills. So while everyone else where running around in pads, I was just in a helmet and sleeveless shirt. Which wasn't too bad in some ways. The offense is a no-huddle offense (fast tempo for those of you that don't know), so their conditioning is hard. REALLY hard. And I thought the conditioning we did in Denmark was hard. We started out by running about 15-20 20-yard sprints. Non-stop. Next up, three suicide runs (A suicide run is crossing the field four times). And to round it off at least 10 minutes of pushing the 5-man sled around, alternating turns with 2 others. All that in 35-40/100+ degree heat. Oh, by the way, I got told that was an easy day. It didn't help me either that my helmet was tight enough around my head to almost give me headaches. They don't have any Riddell Revolution helmets over here, which is what I'm used to.

But other than those few things that I need to get used to, it was quite nice to be at a football practice in the US. There's coaches assigned to all the different positions, equipment personnel, all kinds of things I'm not used to in Denmark. It's a different thing over here. That being said, the players here aren't all as great as you'd think. The level is higher, no doubt, but the difference between football in the U.S. and in Denmark is not that huge in terms of skill. I'll be on the junior varsity team (2nd team) at first, but we'll see where I can go from there.

Also yesterday, I got my schedule sorted out and was registered for classes. I was planning to start in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program once I got back to Denmark. Well, that was untill I found out that my high school offers that program over here. So I'll be starting already. It's a 2 year program, so I might have just one year of high school in Denmark once I get back!

Today I was shown around school campus by some of the other IB students. A few IB students show the exchange students around campus each year. It was great to meet my future classmates and teachers and see some of my classrooms. School starts tomorrow (Wednesday), so I'm quite excited for that!

Not too long before I'll leave for football practice. I've been told conditioning will be even worse tonight.

See ya!