Since the boys work out during the summer for football and other sports, Andalusia assistant coach Teresa Herring thought that she’d try it out for the girls.

The week after school got out, girls from all sports at AHS have met three days per week to work on getting stronger, faster and better, Herring said.

“I felt like it’s something that’s necessary,” she said. “The boys lift weights. Every program I’ve been in, we’ve had summer work outs.

“I think it’s something that can make them better,” she said. “We have some great teams and great athletes, but they can be better and they can be greater.”

Tuesdays are dedicated to the weight room; Wednesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to building speed and agility.

Herring said she decided to hold the summer work outs for the first time at the school about a month before school was over.

“I could see how much better they could be with a little strength training,” Herring said. “Their head coaches do multiple duties, and sometimes don’t have the time to focus on the conditioning side of things.

“I decided I was going to do it,” she said.

Herring said the summer program benefits girls in all sports at the school.

“I just feel like it benefits everybody,” she said. “When the cheerleader squad comes in, it’s going to help them build. With basketball, it’s going to help them with jumping, speed and endurance. With volleyball, it’ll help them with their explosiveness.”

Thursday’s work out signified the last one until July 5, where they’ll pick up right where they left off, Herring said.

Herring said a common aim for the work outs has been to build “a sense of teamwork among all sports.”

“We want to make this Lady Bulldogs athletics,” Herring said. “It’s not just basketball work outs or volleyball work outs. It’s the entire Lady Bulldogs athletic program working out.”