Integrity Sports Management Player Diaries

Note: Kicker Rob Hart will provide a first hand account of his 6th NFL Europe season, right here on integritysports.net. Rob will share his thoughts throughout the season about whatever is going happening in Scotland and with the Claymores or whatever is on his mind at the time. The Claymores play their games in Glasgow, Scotland at Hampden Park.

May 5, 2003 - Week 5

The team is now into week 5 and we are currently 2-2. After crushing Berlin in week 1 we seemed to have problems on both sides of the ball in week two and three but won pretty convincingly again last week away
in Berlin. Hopefully we can continue this week against Barcelona at home although they have been doing great at creating turnovers and are currently 3-1.

Personally I am doing really well and I've been pleased by my performances. I've even been given the role as a team captain this week which is a real honor, especially for a kicker. It shows I'm getting respect from my coaches and my team mates. Just got to keep doing what I have been doing! On a personal note I have currently kicked 15 straight field goals in a row so looking as well to get to the league record of 18.

Regards,

Rob

April 6, 2003 - Week 1

Well the Claymores are standing 1-0! This weekend we beat Berlin an amazing 62-31!! The team seems to be bonding extremely well and we are all looking forward to the challenge of entertaining the number 1 defense of Frankfurt at home next week - especially after scoring 62 points. We really do have to keep our feet firmly grounded though! Last year we had a great week 1 victory but then went on to a terrible run... lets hope the lessons have been learnt!

Personally I scored 11 points and lead all kickers in points at the moment. My kick offs were 'satisfactory'! so I need to make sure they are a little better directionally next week. I had enough practice though so they should be fine. As long as the offense keep performing well I should be kicking a lot this year so hopes are high!

Regards,

Rob

August 15, 2002

Almost three weeks into training camp now and had our first game on Monday night against the Dolphins. I played ok. My kickoffs were fine - I even had the first tackle of the Buccaneers pre-season. Not bad for a kicker! Not too good for our special teams coach though! Late in the third quarter I missed a 48 yard field goal, though. It was a great opportunity for me to show what i can do so I'm a bit annoyed at myself for missing such a chance. Our next game is on Friday night against Jacksonville, so hopefully I will get another chance. We will see.

Camp has been a great experience so far. The resources of the team our phenomenal - much different to what I experienced either in college or NFL Europe. The professionalism of the players is also remarkable. Practice has gone well for me so far - I have had lots of positive comments from the coaches and players which has been great. I just need to make sure that I can transform practice into the game.

July 25, 2002.

A special date for me now. I have finally signed with the NFL and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers!

To say that signing with an NFL team for a European is difficult is an understatement! As far as I know I am one of only two British guys in the last ten years who have even been to training camp with NFL teams - it's not been an easy ride for either myself, my agent or the Tampa Bay front office! Coming straight from an NFL Europe season to training camp is not normally a great advantage for most players as they tend to get pretty banged up in Europe. This is not really the case for kickers - and instead I feel I'm in pretty good shape approaching training camp in Orlando which begins on Sunday.

I flew into Tampa yesterday for my physical and to sign the contract with the team. I met the special teams coach and a couple of the other coaches before signing my contract and being whisked away to a nearby hotel. With camp not starting for another two days I have the luxury of a couple of days of relaxation before the main event begins on Sunday. As this is my first camp I am very excited and, of course, a little nervous. My competition, Martin Gramatica, is a well established figure in Tampa, but being signed to an NFL team gives me the opportunity of show casing my talents throughout the league and I am definitely on the right road towards an NFL career. At the moment I am just looking forward to competing and I am enjoying the Florida sunshine while I can!

Note: Wide Receiver Phil Taylor will provide us an insight into his off-season training routine, as he prepares for the upcoming Arena Football Season, which will now be televised on NBC, right here on integritysports.net. Phil will share his thoughts throughout the off-season and then into training camp about whatever is on his mind at the time.

SUMMARY: 66 DAYS UNTIL THE 2003 ARENA FOOTBALL SEASON
The Arena Football League will kickoff its 17th season, which includes a fine NBC nationwide television deal. After playing in the AFL2 last season as an offensive specialist, I make a jump back up to the Arena one level signed and motivated for camp (Carolina Cobras). In 2001, I played for the Toronto Phantoms, which as many should know folded earlier this year due to financial backing. Leading to the start of the Arena Season, I will take you into my world, time to time, letting you in on my off-season preparations. The season is right around the corner, and I know that I must be in top shape when it becomes time to put on that Carolina Cobras uniform. Starting this week and on until the start of the season, I will focus more on field play and ball drills, while continuing my strength program in the weight room. I know that I've been working hard in the weight room for the past 4 months and needed to get my body familiar to the constant running that is going to be required of me. Any receiver in any league is going to tell you that running, as well as, on field preparations are the most important aspect to becoming a successful receiver. Strength is a factor, but running routes and catching balls are both a MUST. This week I set up a conditioning system, enabling myself to excel both in the weight room, and on the field. Come inside my world and get the down low on how I do things.

Monday - Friday, Nov-Dec, 2002
I'm anxious and ready for work. I have dedicated this off-season to myself, focusing more on football than usual in the past. I am determined and excited for the upcoming season. I start and finishing the week training in the weight room. It just makes me feel good about my self, week in and week out. It's something that I've become accustomed to. I have set goals and am happy to surpass my first, which was to gain some weight and get stronger. Today I can take a look in the mirror and smile, to the fact that I've gained 16 pounds (184 pounds) over the span of 3 in-a-half months. {Working out for the Buffalo Bills in late July, my weight was the only disappointing factor. This encouraged me so much to get going. I decided that I wasn't going to let my weight play a factor in my football abilities. Say I can't catch, or that I can't run routes, or even that I have trouble reading defenses. But many could never say that. The story was that I was always too light. And now when the time comes for players to get on that field, I'll definitely be one of them who will be ready.} It is very important to be able to control your speed, as well as your route running abilities. I have never played over 180 and want to be prepared for any challenge that happens to cross my path.

--------Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons, are days where I spend my time working out in the weight room. Because of the nearing season, I want to ease up on the weights a little but at the same time keep my body working hard. I have decided to condition with dumbbells for more reps and less weight, which I feel will help me to excel when it comes to endurance. I start with the bench press style, using two 45-pound dumbbells. I knock out 3 sets of 30, but also work on shoulder press and abs in between sets (this keeps me going and working hard). For the shoulder press, I'll grab two 25-pound dumbbells and knock out 3 sets of 15. I usually get in about 50-75 reps, working on my abs doing sit ups, on the sport balls. Once I'm through with that cycle, I start working my biceps in a cycle of its own. I began curling with two 25-pound dumbbells, then moving to 20's, then right after 15's. I rest my arms for about 5 min and use that rest time to condition my legs on the stair master. After finishing my stair master workout, I return and complete my curling cycle again. After completing another 5 minutes on the stair master, I then use a life fitness machine (I'm unsure of its proper name) which works the whole body. You pedal like your sitting on a bicycle, except your standing up and working your arms back and forth in a skiing fashion. It's a great machine that I truly love. Although my legs at this point are burning, I go hard on this machine for 5 min. After resting for a minute or two, I then complete my day on the stair master. I push my self another 5 minutes while jogging up hill on the elevated machine. My workouts usually take about an hour. Now I can go home, eat healthy, and relax.

--------Tuesday, Thursdays are days, which I spend on the grass field. The cold and the snow is not really a factor to me when it comes to working out. I've been conditioning outside in the cold since high school. If anything, I think that conditioning in the cold will help me to become stronger in all aspects. Also take in mind that I condition and spend my off-season in Toronto, Ontario (Canada). There's a park here with a nice hill, which is best for running up. But first I start my day on the flat surface stretching, mastering cone drills, and running routes from both sides of the field. My only down fall here is not having anyone here to throw me the ball. But it keeps me concentrated on being more focused in other areas I needed work on, such as weight, strength, and speed. But I can assure you that I'll be the first Carolina Cobra player there in Charlotte the very minute players are allowed to report in. I want to report as early as possible, working with QB's, and getting a feel for the system prior to the start of camp. I end my days on the field sprinting up the grassy hill. I usually end up completing 6-8 reps up and down the hill. Soon after, I find my self a nice meal and later jump on my XBOX to play some Madden. It makes me feel good when I feel accomplishment. I'll make sure to keep u in tune with my off-season preparations…………..HOLLA