Practice makes perfect for Gladiators

Adam Candee

Friday, April 4, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.

Basketball teams do not practice on blacktop and baseball teams do not practice in dirt lots.

In Arena Football, however, practicing away from game conditions of artifical turf and giant hanging nets is the norm, as facilities are not readily available to most teams.

That is why the Las Vegas Gladiators (5-4) are enjoying their recent stretch of workouts at the Thomas & Mack Center, where they will take on Colorado (1-8) Saturday night. The players believe their is no substitute for practicing on their home field.

"It definitely changes your timing, with being on the artificial turf," Gladiators coach Frank Haege said. "Everything happens a little faster, and the confines are a little bit tighter. And no wind has obviously been the biggest thing this week."

The Gladiators worked out at Sam Boyd Stadium early in the season, but working out on grass, with no walls and wider goalposts is a disadvantage, especially to the special teams corps that needs to practice with balls coming off the end zone nets.

Take it from Sedrick Robinson, one of Arena Football's best return men. After Las Vegas' first week of practice at the Thomas & Mack, Robinson returned a kickoff for a touchdown in last week's win.

The Gladiators face tough games at Grand Rapids and Orlando after playing host to the struggling Crush, the Arena team owned by former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway.