Practices begin around region as grind to season's opening begins

By AARON SNYDER — The Independent

July 21, 2008 11:34 pm

— The high school football season is inching ever closer.
For some schools, Monday marked the first day they practiced on the field with helmets, while others began last week.
Because of a newly implemented rule by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, teams must practice according to a non-contact period, in which helmets are allowed, but full pads are not.
The purpose of the rule, according to the KHSAA, is to eliminate some of the extra heat in which pads and additional gear could produce.
Each school year’s start date determines when the school is allowed to practice full-contact.
Greenup County coach Mike Sammons agrees with the rule and thinks it is beneficial.
“It gives you a chance to implement all of your stuff,” Sammons said. “Once a kid gets pads on, they forget about everything and just want to hit someone. This way, you can get all of the learning in before the pads are on.”
Some, including Ashland coach Leon Hart, are not so fond of the rule.
“My problem with the rule is that you can’t even work on the fundamentals of the game, blocking and tackling,” Hart said.
Regardless of the rule, several coaches were excited to get back out onto the field.
“It feels good to be out there and not just having to talk about being out there,” said Boyd County coach Lee Evans.
Both Boyd County and Greenup County began practicing last week, while Ashland started on Monday.
Since Boyd County starts school earlier than other schools, it will be able to practice with full pads beginning this Friday.
“It’s kind of a Catch-22,” Evans said. “It can be beneficial because everyone is ready to get at it, but we have to practice for quite a while before we actually start the season.”
The season officially begins on August 29, and practice will only pick up pace until then.
With high temperatures in the middle of the day, most teams are practicing in the evenings or mornings.
“As a coach it’s difficult because you spend more time this time of year worrying about somebody going down with a heat condition than actual football,” Hart said.
Hart’s bunch practiced at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, but he said he would push it back to 9 and even further if it gets hotter. Weather has forced Evans to do the same thing at Boyd County.
Sammons prefers to practice in the evening because, as everyone is wearing down, it is getting cooler.
“We check the heat index every day and if it is more than 104, we don’t go out,” Sammons said. “We work out in the weight room or go to the chalkboard until it hits that number.”
Schools have had workouts throughout the summer except for during the dead period, which lasted from June 25 to July 9.
Hart said his team has used this time to get in shape, but it is difficult to evaluate where some of the players stand.
“Until you actually get out and block and tackle, I don’t know that you get a real assessment of your team,” Hart said. “I just know that we are bigger, stronger and faster than a year ago.”
“Offensively, you can do quite a bit this time of year,” Evans said. “You can do assignment type blocking and we can certainly rep and time a lot of plays. Defensively, it’s hard because, until you can pad up and get after it, any group other than the secondary can’t do much.”
As for Sammons, the task of evaluating his players will be even more challenging after a season in which the Musketeers won two playoff games.
According to Sammons, the number of players has increased at each grade level, but he has especially seen more freshman this year than any other year.
“The perception of Greenup County football is different now,” Sammons said.
Several teams will go to two and eventually three practices a day as late-August nears and school begins.
As the summer progresses, practices will be more intense for players, but, according to Evans, it tests the athletes’ true aspirations.
“It’s so hot and so physical, if you don’t have a deep desire, it’s difficult to get anything done,” he said.

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