June 15, 2024

By Fred Liggett
sports.lstribune08@gmail.com

The countdown to a new high school football season is well underway for fans, coaches and many area players. For eight teams in the Kansas City metro area these coaches and players were able to participate in an initiative called “11-On.”

The Kansas City Chiefs in partnership with Nike hosted eight high school football teams at a competition held at Paragon Star in Lee’s Summit. Four teams from Kansas and four from Missouri came together on Monday, Jun. 10 for multiple seven on seven games to go along with position specific drills.

One of the Missouri teams was the St. Michael’s Guardians. SMA head football coach Andrew Pitts commented on the event “real appreciative, made memories in a pretty neat setting.” The Guardians brought 25 players to the event all of them being juniors or seniors. Coach Pitts admitted “had fun talking with other coaches.”

Players from nearby Ruskin as well as Warrensburg and Hogan Prep made the short trip to Lee’s Summit to play in this annual summer event. The players worked on their skills and techniques among other things. Coach Pitts says “a super well run event, players had a push up challenge, tug of war games and did agility tests.”

The day-long event began at 9 a.m. and concluded by 5 p.m. The players were “just trying to learn” Coach Pitts said and the coaches “to teach different schemes.” The event was open to the public and is free to attend each year. High school football fans will have to keep an eye out for where this Nike event will be played next summer. For now eight area teams got a jump on preparation for the upcoming 2024 season.