Blackman coach David Watson talks to a player during the Riverdale 7-on-7 tournament last week.

MURFREESBORO — One week of 7-on-7 passing tournaments will be enough for some Tennessee high school football programs due to one less week than normal between the dead period and the start of fall practice.

The TSSAA mandates that all football teams hold at least three practices in shells — shoulder pads and helmets — this week to get athletes acclimated to the heat in preparation for the first day in full pads on July 25.

“I wish we had two weeks (of 7-on-7) because the kids like 7-on-7 and we do too,” Blackman coach David Watson said. “It’s fun to compete. Just having one week to do it makes it harder. Some will do 7-on-7 during the heat acclimation week. (This week) will be a practice run for what we will do in full gear.”

The way the calendar fell this year, teams had two weeks between the end of the dead period and the start of fall practice. Typically, there are three weeks.

Watson said his practice goal is to go Monday through Wednesday in shells to fulfill the TSSAA rule. He said the Blaze could do more days if the coaching staff believes more time is needed.

Practicing in shells is common during the high school season as coaches try to limit the amount of full contact.

“It allows us to practice a little bit differently,” Siegel coach Greg Wyant said. “We do shells quite a bit. We’re probably just one day in full pads during the season.

“It’s probably bigger this year because we are shorted a week because of how the schedule falls. Kids go on dead period and get in the air conditioning for two weeks. They watch the cable TV and play Nintendo and they aren’t acclimated. We get them acclimated pretty well, then they go into hibernation again.”

Riverdale first-year coach Will Kriesky said he used to prefer to have his teams play in as many 7-on-7 tournaments as possible when he was a defensive backs coach for the Warriors. However, his stance has changed.

“I want to focus on us, because we need to get better as a team,” he said. “(This) week is going to be important to do all of that practice time.”

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.