Autumn begins in late September, but signs of the change of season are appearing. The cool nights, the shortened day hours, and the change of leaf color.
Every year at this time high school students flock to school to begin their new school year early. Volleyball, soccer, girls' tennis, and football activities are a sure sign that summer is ending. For many, the beginning of the season is an annual rite of passage to the school year.
Such was it yesterday as football coach Rex King and his staff began their season on the field with 77 or so young men. At 7:30 am the students began their first of two practices. Running, stretching, running, organization and more running were the early activities.
Of course there would be the stray player who was out of town and wasn't ready with his paperwork and equipment. A few youngsters at the ninth grade level were introduced to football for the first time. But by and large most of the players were ready to go. They had been working out over the summer on their own.
After the first practice the players had a little down time for lunch or a snack before they were back on the field at 1:00 pm for their second practice of the day. In the afternoon more time was spent on offensive formations and defensive concepts.
Following practice the coaches had a short chance to relax before they sat down to review the practices and plan for Tuesday's practices. Everyone agreed that the great weather helped to make the first practices productive.
Today the coaches will continue to work on conditioning and stretching, while the players will try to overcome some stiff muscles. In the first week players will not have pads, so the emphasis can be on the conditioning and thinking side of football. How quickly that first week flies by, and the players are into physical contact.
Next week the sun will be a little lower in the sky, the green leaves will have faded a little more, and we will hear the pop of the pads, along with the shrill whistles of the coaches. Fall is here and the boys are playing football again. Its the best of times!