Rusty Staats began the dead period with a trip out West.

The Watertown High standout made an unofficial visit to the Air Force Academy last weekend.

He quickly transitioned back to work though, despite this week being the first of the TSSAA’s two-week dead period.

“I go to the gym in Watertown and lift every day or go somewhere and run,” Staats said. “I have to stay in shape. I’m thinking three or four days a week, probably not on the weekends.”

During the dead period — which impacts all sports — coaches and players can’t have any contact as no practices, open facilities or weight training/conditioning are permitted by the TSSAA.

Stratford High sophomore Onterreius Smith throws a pass during a National Playmakers Academy workout on Tuesday afternoon at the South Inglewood Community Center.

Related:  TSWA All-State baseball teams

Staats is a 6-foot-4, 270-pound four-year starter at offensive tackle. He has received scholarship offers from Air Force, Tennessee Tech, Morehead State and Kentucky Christian.

“The grind is going to hit (after the dead period),” Watertown coach Gavin Webster said. “You want them to take some time off, but you encourage them that if you can’t do anything else, get out and run a little bit and try to do a little something. We don’t want them sitting in the (air conditioning) for two weeks doing nothing. It’s really going to be hot when they roll back in here.”

Davidson Academy senior Obinna Eze is the No. 8-ranked prospect in Tennessee according to 247Sports.

Watertown won eight games and placed second in Region 4-2A last season.

“Our strength and conditioning coach (Coach Josh Hackett) has us working hard,” Staats said. “We’re all getting stronger and faster. I think we’re ready for the season.”

Webster added, “We’ve worked out and conditioned pretty good. We feel like we have them in pretty decent shape. Hopefully, they can keep some of that. We’re a small rural town. Not everybody has access to a gym, so we don’t stress over it that much. It will show when they come back.”

Taking a breath

Lipscomb Academy senior Tucker Hamar — who helped his squad to eight wins and a second-round playoff appearance last season — is also attempting to balance conditioning with some relaxation.

“It’s a pretty good mix,” said Hamar, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound center. “I’m trying to stay in shape. I’ll go to the Y (YMCA) a day or two during the week. The rest of the week I’ll probably just be out fishing.

“The coaches really do encourage us to stay in shape on our own. They recommend that we do be working out.”

Related:   Summitt left ‘imprint’ on Tennessee girls basketball

While many coaches don’t oppose the mandatory break, some would prefer a different time frame.

“I think it’s great for everybody, but I’ve always (felt that) for football, it needs to be the first two weeks of June,” Siegel  coach Greg Wyant said. “Basically, what we’re saying is go out for two weeks and sit in the air conditioning and play games and don’t do anything for two weeks. Then, come back into the heat. I personally don’t think that is fair for our football kids or any of our fall athletes.

“I think the dead period is a great thing. I think every athlete needs to take two weeks off. I’ve got no problem with that. I just have a problem with where it falls for fall sports.”

Several Midstate players participate in National Playmakers Academy workouts during the dead period. A group of athletes, a majority from Stratford, got together at South Inglewood Community Center on Tuesday to keep their games sharp.

Many teams will participate in seven-on-seven passing competitions when team activity resumes.

Stratford High senor Bradley Jones receives a pass during a National Playmakers Academy workout on Tuesday afternoon at the South Inglewood Community Center.

Until then, Blackman coach David Watson sees this as valuable downtime for players and coaches.

“I think it’s huge personally to have two weeks where you have a last hurrah, or recharge your batteries,” Watson said. “It’s a chance to spend time with your family. Most coaches — even when they are not doing anything — are still planning and thinking about football, but this gives them two weeks where you can relax a bit.

“You know (that) after this, it’s going to be a grind, hopefully until the first week of December.”

Riverdale first-year head coach Will Kriesky is confident that his players understand the importance of maintaining their conditioning during the layoff.

“They know our workouts,” Kriesky said. “We give them a schedule to take with them and to do. A lot of them will go to different gyms and train with different groups.

“I told them after spring practice, ‘We’ll hit it hard until the dead period.’ They know during this two-week break (that) they need to stay in shape.”

Tom Kreager contributed to this report. Reach Craig Harris at 615-259-8238 and on Twitter @CHTennessean. 

TSSAA Summer Dead Period

Period: Sunday, June 26, 12 a.m. to Sunday July 9, 12 a.m.

Restrictions: No coaching, observing, or contact between coach and players in sport involved. There is no practice,

no open facilities, and no weight training/conditioning.

Sports affected: All TSSAA-sanctioned sports.