After a week working in helmets followed by a week in helmets and shoulder pads, Tennessee high school football teams can begin full-contact practices today.
Georgia teams begin conditioning today and start full-pads practices next week.
"Last week was all just installing (schemes), getting them outside and running around and teaching the new guys what's expected," East Hamilton coach Ted Gatewood said.
Notre Dame coach Charles Fant said assistant Gerald Riggs Jr. began working players toward this point on the first day of summer training.
"We considered the strength component and what kind of shape we needed to be in going into (7-on-7 passing competitions)," said Fant, who started the summer with 43 players, a high for his five-year tenure. "Having Gerald run our summer program has been great, and we saw in 7-on-7s that the kids were not getting tired."
TSSAA rules limit contact and two-a-day practices. If a team has two practices today, it can have only one Tuesday. If a team practices in full pads today and Tuesday, players must practice in "shells" (helmets and shoulder pads) on Wednesday.
While Gatewood abandoned two-a-day practices three years ago, he might prefer a common sense approach and wonders about contact limitations rules.
"Now they're pushing rules (about) how much contact you can have and, golly bum, kids can't get used to contact," he said.
Fant all but abandoned full gear and full contact in practices two years ago, opting instead for shells, although the Irish often had two-a-day sessions prior to the start of school.
"We were in full pads one day - the first day of fall drills - and it was shells the rest of the time," he said.
While National Federation and TSSAA rules limit full contact to three days per week, numerous area schools, including Notre Dame, limit it even more.
"We went back to full contact, but only on Tuesdays last season," Fant said.
The TSSAA limits practice sessions in pads to three hours, and if there are multiple practices in a day, only one can be in full pads and the practices must be separated by at least three hours of rest in a cool environment.
Coaches also must keep an eye on the temperature and check the heat index every 30 minutes. Mandatory 10-minute water breaks are required after every 30 minutes of practice, and athletes must have unrestricted access to water. Depending on the heat index, ice-down towels also should be available, and if the index hits more than 105 degrees, all activity must be stopped.
Jamborees for Tennessee teams will be held the second week of August - including the Times Free Press Kickoff Classic, presented by Zaxby's, Aug. 12-13 at Finley Stadium - and the season begins for Georgia and Tennessee the following week.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.