It’s that time of year. The slate is clean. All teams can be champions. High school football practice in full pads begins Monday across the state.

Here is what you need to know as players take the field.

Save the date: First games are Aug. 20.

NEW PRACTICE REGULATIONS

1.  Practice time must not exceed three hours for a single practice.
2.  If there are multiple practices in a day only one should have full contact.
3.  Total daily practice time in pads should not exceed five hours with practices separated by at least three hours of rest in a cool area.
4. No athlete should have multiple practices in pads on consecutive days. Helmets can be worn at any time. A practice would be considered in pads if shoulder pads and/or football pants with or without pads are worn.

PRACTICE LIMITATIONS IN-SEASON

1.  Full contact allowed in no more than three practices a week.
2.  Full contact in practice no more than 30 minutes per day per group.
3.  Full contact not permitted on three consecutive days.
4.  No player can participate in more than eight quarters in one week, on the offensive or defensive side. Special teams participation does not count toward those limitations.
5. Full contact is contact which meets the parameters of live action or “thud.” Live action is contact at game speed where players execute full tackles at a competitive pace, taking players to the ground. Thud is defined as competitive tempo with no pre-determined winner of a drill with the players not tackling to the ground.

SIGNIFICANT NFHS RULE CHANGES

1. Dead-ball penalty enforcement modified: The distance penalties for unsportsmanlike, non-player or dead-ball personal fouls committed by teams can offset. Equal numbers of 15-yard penalties by both teams will cancel and remaining penalties may be enforced.
2. The rule will matter most when close to the goal line where officials now won’t count off half the distance to the goal line on one side and a full 15 yards the opposite direction.
3. Free-kick formations revised: Teams must have at least four players on each side of the kicker when the ball is kicked.
4. Before that rule, teams were forced to have at least four players on each side prior to the kick. This could allow more players moving around on kickoffs.

FEELING THE HEAT

High school football coaches and athletic trainers will monitor the heat index at high school football practices and scrimmages the next few weeks. Here is the TSSAA’s heat index policy:

1. 105 degrees or higher: Stop all outdoor activity. Re-check after 30 minutes.
2. 100-104: Provide ample water. Water should be unlimited to athletes. Mandatory water breaks every 30 minutes lasting 10 minutes. Iced towels should be available. Alter uniforms by removing layers if possible. Remove helmets, equipment when in non-contact drills. Postpone practice if possible. Re-check after 30 minutes.
3. 95-99: Provide ample water. Water should be unlimited to athletes. Mandatory water breaks every 30 minutes lasting 10 minutes. Iced towels should be available. Postpone practice if possible. Re-check after 30 minutes.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Monday: First day teams can practice in full pads.

Thursday: First day teams can either practice with or scrimmage other teams. But both teams must have had three days of practice in full pads.

Friday: First big day for scrimmages.

Aug. 20: First day of games.

Nov. 6: Playoffs begin

Dec. 3-5: BlueCross Bowls in Cookeville