This week we will be taking a look at what the falcons are getting up to following the play-offs, as they enter the off-season. We will look at the current team status, what they do during the off season and hear from the head coach Adam Lilis with a round up of the year.
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:20 Hello and welcome to Limitless, Rise of the Falcons.
00:23 I'm Naoka, and this week we'll be taking a look at what the Falcons are getting up to following the playoffs
00:29 As they enter the off-season, we will look at the current team status, what they do during the off-season
00:35 and how they head coach Adam Lillis with the round-up of the year
00:38 But first, now that their season is over, let's take a little look at what the players are getting up to
00:44 Jack Darkin spoke with the members of the Falcons about their recent playoff result and what they've been doing with their spare time
00:50 The Kent Falcons have had a very successful season
00:53 However, unfortunately, it was cut short by their playoff defeat to Oxford
00:57 After a few weeks of reflection, here's what the players had to say about that game
01:01 Unfortunately, it didn't go our way
01:04 There could be many factors in there why it didn't
01:07 They were just a better team that day
01:09 I think if we played again, like 10 times over, we'd win most of them
01:16 But it just happens to be that that day they wanted it more than we did
01:20 We sort of had a bad start going into the game
01:25 I feel like we were a bit complacent
01:27 We had a bad start, as I said, when we started the game
01:31 Started down two possessions and I think we all started to get on our own heads a little bit really
01:35 And that was our own downfall
01:37 We had a few glimpses where we looked like we might get back into the game
01:42 But it never amounted to anything
01:44 And always sort of stayed two to one possession behind
01:48 And eventually we lost the game and it was an upsetting loss really for everyone involved
01:53 Just because the playing season is over though, does not mean that the team camaraderie has to come to an end
01:58 The team have set up events that still means they see each other every week
02:01 We all have a table and then each week you play two other teams
02:08 And then we have a table and then after that we have play-offs
02:12 So we do football on Mondays
02:14 And then we still have the socials every Wednesday for those that can come
02:19 And then on Thursdays, trainings, I think some of the guys do flag football tournaments
02:24 For many players like Kyle Amorese, this will be their last season with the Falcons
02:28 Despite this, they have had very fond memories of playing this year
02:32 And upon reflection, they still believe they've had a great season
02:35 So for me, it was a bit hard that first week, sort of accepting one, we've lost the play-off game
02:40 Then I felt we had a good chance of winning, that was hard
02:43 And then after a bit, it even took me about a couple of minutes maybe after the game
02:48 To realise this is the last time I'm ever going to play with these people
02:51 So that was quite emotional for me
02:54 But looking back at it all now, we've had a good season
02:57 So I can be quite happy with it really
02:59 I think myself and others are taking it a bit harder since this will be our last year
03:06 So after we lost it, it kind of sunk in that that was it for our careers at university
03:11 And with the Falcons, so I think we're taking it a bit harder
03:14 But it's also trying to recover from all the niggling injuries that we've had over the seasons
03:20 And yeah, that's mainly how I'm feeling
03:23 But I'm also appreciative of my time
03:26 And this year, I will treasure it, it was really fun
03:30 And I'll really treasure the success that we had this year
03:34 Next, the Falcons have officially entered their off-season
03:39 Cora Ingalls spoke to the players to find out what they get up to during this time
03:43 And how they prepare for the next season
03:45 Let's take a look
03:46 After the playoffs sees the beginning of the off-season
03:49 And the team focuses on preparations for the next
03:52 Recently, I spoke with two players to learn what the Falcons do during this period
03:57 So it's a lot of just, you have to physically build your body up a little bit more
04:01 Especially towards the end of the season when a lot of us are playing so many games back to back
04:05 We will step off from the gym just to let our bodies heal
04:08 But then towards the end of September, start of October
04:12 It will be a lot of heavy gym sessions
04:14 Going for personal records, going for higher levels of endurance
04:19 Just so when we get back out, we are 100%
04:22 I know this first year, I broke my squat record
04:26 And my row record, just trying to get into a good mindset for this year
04:31 Especially going up into a higher division
04:33 Mainly for me personally, on the off-season, I usually do quite a lot of endurance
04:37 A lot of footwork, a lot of agility drills
04:40 So usually I don't run that often during the season
04:44 But when I have the time off, I like to go for quite a lot of runs
04:47 That definitely helps
04:48 And then usually it's like footwork almost every day, especially after exams
04:52 Then I asked about their mindset going into the next season
04:57 It's a lot of, as we say, locking in
05:00 So we'll try to lock in for the new season
05:03 We're prepared for competing
05:05 Playing on the defensive side, you always think that ball is ours
05:09 That's how it's alright
05:11 And so that's the mindset we have as a defensive team personally
05:14 It's like on the off-season, everything you do now
05:17 You put it on the pitch later on in the season
05:19 And it should pay off the more effort you put in
05:23 Lastly, we discussed their personal routines and goals
05:27 Personal goals, I mean just keep going to the gym, just keep working on my speed
05:31 Top speed, increasing that, acceleration and then change of direction
05:34 I know myself I need to work on my own agility
05:37 My own hip flexibility, my own personal shoulder strength
05:43 Things that I can't necessarily change overnight
05:45 But then it's things that I can build into the season
05:48 So yeah, we focus on every little thing
05:53 So we can take things under a microscope and kind of analyse it at the end of the season
05:58 And then that's kind of what we build towards
06:00 Overall, during the off-season, the team prepares themselves both physically and mentally for the upcoming season
06:07 And now, it's time for this week's Tony Teaches
06:12 Where we learn fundamental manoeuvres of the game with our resident running back, Tony Mazzanichita
06:18 This week, he took us through how to punt the ball and to kick a field goal with a Ken Falcon safety, Toby Dean
06:25 Let's take a look
06:26 Hello and welcome back to Tony Teaches
06:29 This week, I'll be taking you through punting and kicking a field goal with Ken Falcon safety, Toby Dean
06:35 Now, let's break it down
06:37 When it comes to punting the ball, you want to hold the ball out in front of you with the laces facing forward, pointing up
06:43 Then release the ball just before kicking and kick with your foot, using the top of your foot, driving up with your legs straight and following through
06:51 Now that's how you punt a football
06:53 Now, when it comes to kicking a field goal, you want to be driving through the ball, following up, making contact with the bottom tip of the ball, kicking with the top of your foot
07:03 And with your feet, you want to calculate the amount of steps you want to take for your approach
07:07 Most kickers tend to take two to three steps back, then a step to the side to come towards the kick and angle
07:13 Now that's how to punt and kick a field goal
07:15 As well this week, I sat down with Toby to get his thoughts on his first season as a Falcon and what he's planning to do now the season is over
07:23 This season has been absolutely fantastic
07:26 It being my first BUCS season and making it to the playoffs is really all you really want
07:30 My personal highlight has been that first game against Essex, coming out and making a statement
07:35 You know, beating who is essentially our division rival and yeah, that BUCS home ride was fantastic
07:42 And so the season is now over, what kind of things are you looking towards for next season to improve personally?
07:48 Personally, I'm going to get in the gym, you know, put some bulk on so that I can now know the physicality of this league
07:55 I can really put a statement in next year and ultimately next year we want to go all the way
08:00 And so what other things are you planning to do over the off season?
08:04 So I'm playing at home with my home team, the Solent Seahawks
08:07 Hopefully take them to the national championship, then come back to uni and take them to the national championship
08:12 That's the plan
08:13 And so you're the planner of the team, how important do you believe special teams are for the squad?
08:17 Really, special teams is the most essential part of the team
08:20 If you have a bad special teams, realistically you can't win a game
08:24 It really is a game changer
08:26 And finally, I was joined earlier by the Falcon's head coach, Adam Lillis
08:32 to discuss the team's current standing and performance over the season
08:37 Thank you for joining us today and I'm going to jump into my first question
08:41 Now that the season has ended, where did the Falcons finish in the league?
08:45 So we finished top of the division in Division 1 South East with a 6-2 record
08:52 which is a great achievement, one that I didn't expect us to do
08:56 but we sort of exceeded our expectations for the year
08:59 and that got us a home field advantage for the playoffs
09:03 That sounds good, and what were some of your expectations at the beginning of the season
09:07 and were they met by the playoffs?
09:09 Yes, great question
09:12 Firstly, yes, they were met and exceeded by the players and the coaching staff
09:17 In terms of expectations at the beginning of the season, to be honest, we were first year staff
09:22 It's my first year as head coach, a lot of the staff are new coaches
09:26 and a lot of the players are first year players that have never played the sport before
09:30 or are new to the team, so the expectation was really just to start embedding a culture
09:36 that would hold the team true for the next number of years, for however long I plan to be here
09:43 As I said, all the players, all the coaches have met and exceeded that expectation
09:47 So the cherry on top of the cake is to win the division, that is a fantastic result
09:53 Not one that I would have expected to do, but the players have done a great job
09:59 and I'm looking forward to next season already
10:01 Sounds great, and what have been some of the highs and lows of this season
10:05 not only for the team but for you as well as a coach?
10:08 Sure, I think the coaches are doing a really great job from day one
10:13 They've really bought into the process that I've set out for them, especially the newer coaches
10:19 I think we've achieved those goals more than I've expected, so that's a great result
10:25 Sounds good, and you mentioned that this was your first year as a head coach
10:28 So what has this season taught you?
10:30 In terms of what I've been taught, what I've learned is that delegation is a great tool
10:40 I've been around the game for a long time, but the more I trust others in delivering the wider goal
10:48 and letting them get on with their little bit, their little area of focus
10:53 then the chances of us being successful are much bigger
10:56 And my final question is, what do you believe the future for the team looks like?
11:00 We've got ideas for a women's team, revitalising the youth and junior programmes that we used to have
11:06 So that's a lot of years of hard work coming up, but for the Kemp Falcons in the short term
11:12 I think next year, if we get another great recruitment drive and the returning players from this year
11:21 I think we'll be in a really great spot to make a really deep playoff run
11:25 I think that'll be our overall goal, is to potentially get into the Division 1 South final
11:30 potentially the National final and things like that
11:33 Now we've reached the end zone of today's episode
11:36 But don't forget, you can catch us next week for the final episode
11:40 where we will not only look at the future of the Falcons, but also American football together
11:44 Hope to see you then, bye!
11:46 [Music]
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