A new team rule has Lumberton football coach Chris Babin hoping his team avoids a problem that plagued the Raiders last season.
The Raiders had 20 fumbles in 10 games, so the third-year coach is making the entire team do up-downs - an exercise that requires players to jump to a standing position quickly from a horizontal plank - if a player fumbles the ball in practice.
Babin believes without the turnovers, Lumberton would have made the playoffs last season and could challenge for a top four spot again this season.
"We've put a newfound focus into ball security," Babin said. "We were better than our record showed last season, but just couldn't put it all together because of the turnovers."
Lumberton finished 3-7 overall - 2-6 in District 22-5A - and Babin can point out specific games that led to the regression from the previous year's 7-4 record.
The Raiders turned the ball over six times in a 45-22 loss to Vidor and twice in the red zone in a 35-34 loss to Central.
Senior offensive lineman Jason Parker said the policy, which started before the team's first practice on Monday, is already having an effect.
Parker said the team had to do "about 10" repetitions of up-downs on Monday but saw the total drop to two on Tuesday.
"It's definitely a work in progress for us," Parker said. "I think the reason we're all doing it is to really get through to everyone how important not turning over the ball can be for us."
Lumberton's turf field makes the up-downs less painful, but it's still not a punishment the Raiders want to see last as the regular season nears.
The Raiders' first scrimmage is next Friday against Silsbee.
"We have to close out games and have to cut down on our turnovers," said senior offensive lineman Dario Quinones. "That's what Coach Babin is trying to instill in our team, and I'm hoping it works."