Miles and miles ahead: August 1 not your normal Day 1 of official football practice anymore

MANSFIELD — There was still that usual excitement in the air.

It was Aug. 1 and the first mandatory football practices were underway all across Richland County. Some schools opted for a traditional two-a-day schedule of practice in the morning before an evening practice to close out the day. Others decided one long session in the evening would do the trick.

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But there was a different feel to the so-called first day of football practice. It was Aug. 1 and a majority of players were already in full pads and were competing in full-contact practices right out of the gate. That's because every team in Ohio has been in football mode since May 15 when the OHSAA allowed schools to host and attend 7-on-7 events ushering in the spring football era.

Football coaches in Ohio are allowed 18 contact days from May 15-Aug. 1 when the first official practices are held to begin preparation for the season. So, Day 1 hardly feels like Day 1 anymore. This isn't your grandfather's opening day of high school football practice.

"Day 1 now and even when I first started coaching, it is all about continuing your summer stuff," Ontario coach Aaron Eckert said. "Aug. 1 is our first day of truly live football with hitting thanks to our early acclimation days, but we still approach this first day like we do in the summer only with a traditional two-a-day practice."

The Warriors started the day with a light practice from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. before a yoga session from 9-10. Then, they took a six-hour break before returning for an evening practice from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. And during those hours on the field, it was far from the Day 1 stuff Eckert, a 2006 Crestline grad, went through during his playing days.

Voluntary spring and summer practices are crucial for learning

Eighteen years ago, Aug. 1 meant you had two practices with just helmets on followed by two more with helmets and shoulder pads followed by one more with full pads and no contact. On the sixth day, it was time to hit.

It was exactly how Mansfield Senior coach Chioke Bradley, who entering his 15th season as head coach of the Tygers is the most veteran coach in Richland County, remembers his playing days when he played for the TYs in the 90s.

"It has changed quite a bit from when I played and even a short time ago," Bradley said. "Aug. 1 used to be the first time you could even put a helmet on and here we are in full pads and full contact today. It is great that the state allows us to get those acclimation days in during our camp days so we can be ready to go on Day 1. I feel like it is a good deed for these kids."

Now, those days acclimation days are knocked out will before the first official practice as well as many aspects of the offensive and defensive schemes teams are using during the season.

But that all depends on the voluntary attendance of the athletes. The first mandatory practice isn't until the calendar flips to August, but during the 18 contact days from May 15 until then, that is when most of the work is being done to prepare for the season so on Aug. 1, teams can hit the ground running. For any athlete who decides to wait until Aug. 1 to attend practice, it is going to be a tough time playing catch up.

"They are behind," Eckert said. "We get 18 days in the summer to implement things and use our acclimation period and we work hard those 18 days. We are as far ahead offensively as we have ever been at this point in the season. We usually have a decent base offense in and are adding some things, but right now, we are fully installed and have a great understanding. If Aug. 1 is your first day of football practice, your head is going to be spinning."

Shelby coach Rob Mahaney, who played high school football at Green until his graduation in 2008, agrees. He led the Whippets through 14 days in the summer with 11 practice days and three 7-on-7 tournaments and during that time was when many things that used to be taken care of during the first two weeks of practice were dealt with.

"Heads would be spinning for sure," Mahaney said. "In those 11 practice days, we pushed our kids to learn as much as they could. We want to get in as much as possible in July and early August and then take things out when we find out where we are going to be. We had a 7-on-7 session in the early part of our practice that if you weren't here for a majority of those 14 days, you wouldn't have a clue about what was going on."

Which makes those non-mandatory summer days basically mandatory if you want to have a clue about what is going on when you arrive for the first day of practice.

"It isn't a mandatory year-round thing, but the guys who are really into it are lifting all year round, are here in May, attend the summer practices and you're here when we really pick things up in July," Eckert said. "If you aren't at a majority of those things, you're behind quite a bit."

Showing up on Aug. 1 for the first time is still fine and everyone is welcomed, but players will have to learn on the fly if they want to catch up to where a majority of their teammates are.

"Kids that show up Aug. 1 are great because we want those kids to be a part of our program and we want to help them develop and become great young men, but they are going to have to learn a lot in a very short period of time," Mahaney said. "Summer isn't mandatory, but that is where we do a majority of our learning. You will learn the offense, you will learn your position and our defense schemes. Aug. 1 is now full pads and full go because the learning is done."

Bradley runs a program that prides itself on dedication and accountability. For a kid that shows up for the first time on Aug. 1, it would be impossible to catch up.

"Super behind," Bradley said. "They won't know any of our terminology, our culture and as a teammate. To say the least, they will be out of shape and our conditioning is a big thing within our program. I would hate to be that person."

But Bradley and his staff give the Tygers plenty of opportunities to make sure they are caught up well before that first official practice.

"As a staff, we came together and put a plan together on the best way to utilize our 16 days so that the kids get the most out of them," Bradley said. "I am proud of the way our staff as used what the state gives us. We find a loop hole or two where in May, we had mock days where we practice with no helmet and no football. We use a nerf basketball just to have something to help us walk through things. That is where a lot of learning happens."

Still plenty of excitement around Aug. 1

Sure, by the time Aug. 1 rolls around, most of the high school football players and coaches have already been hard at it for nearly a month, but there is still something about that day when July ends. It's still the official start and maybe it being game month has something to do with the excitement level of that first day.

"The neat thing it is still Day 1 officially," Eckert said. "We have had great attendance this summer so it really isn't the first day for a majority of our guys, but overall, it is always a fun day. Just how we treat it isn't the same."

Mahaney believes the excitement around Aug. 1 has evolved from finally getting on the field to doing things that make football fun.

"Our kids are still excited for that first official day but I think that excitement has progressed to the excitement about being in full pads and full contact," Mahaney said. "That is where the excitement comes in, not necessarily the first official day of football because we have been at it for quite a while already."

Regardless of how things have evolved over the years, Aug. 1 is still a special day that is celebrated in the high school football world. Call it the first official practice or the true beginning of a new season.

Or just the simple fact that football is back.

jfurr@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Miles and miles ahead: August 1 not your normal Day 1 of official football practice anymore