While the high school football season doesn’t kick off until late August, local squads are already preparing, putting time in the weight room as well as on the field in the form of 7-on-7 competitions.
While it’s not a perfect substitution for the real thing, offenses use the non-contact 7-on-7 format to focus on the passing and develop timing, while defenses get reps in as well.
Pierce head coach Anthony Tapia is one who sees the benefits in the voluntary activity.
“The reality is that players in our area are super busy in the off season, so just getting the team together is huge,” Tapia said. “I’m big on off season improvement, so we are always looking to give our players the opportunity to do so. It’s also a lot more exciting for them than weight training or conditioning, so when we go against multiple schools, we get the most out of our guys.”
Last Wednesday, teams from Colusa, Maxwell, Pierce, and Willows convened in Maxwell for an event organized by Panther head coach Lane Davis.
According to Tapia, squaring off against other local teams generates an overall enthusiasm.
“I know how hard it is to host these things, so it’s awesome what Lane has been able to do with his program and the surrounding communities,” said the Bears’ coach. “It’s really nice seeing all the parents and fans watching the schools battle it out. It, without a doubt, helps all of our programs improve.”
By rule, the official first day of practice for all Northern Section football teams is July 31. ■
