BAKER — Baker Middle School’s football coach, Steve Combest, knows he must teach the basics to his players.
“We understand that some of them haven’t played,” Combest said.
“Our job is to teach fundamentals and try to get them more mentally tough.”
Skills like blocking and tackling look easy when professionals do it.
However, for someone who has never played the game with pads or a helmet that they have to grow into, everything must be learned step by step.
One thing that makes Combest different from other middle school football coaches is the fact that he doesn’t technically coach at a middle school.
With Baker being a K through 12 school, and a small school at that, depth on the bench is a luxury found east of the Yellow River, and south of the Eglin Reservation.
Combest is tasked with grooming the future of the defending district champions.
However, being at the same school for an entire football career has its advantages.
“The kids stay together longer, so you have a chance to create more of a team camaraderie,” he said.
This gives Baker a better chance to prepare for those whom they must coach in the future.
They get to see what’s coming.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Middle works on blocking, tackling and trying hard