The barbells have been banging and the weights have been thrown around the weight room. The air has been full of footballs as 7 on 7 games were played at local high schools. Football coaches run drills for speed, agility, and technique. It's a high energy atmosphere as football camps roll throughout Illinois and across the country. High school association rules allow for much more contact with the athletes than several years ago and the importance of weight training can't be disputed. There is no question that players are bigger, faster, stronger, in better shape, better coached and more prepared than at any time I can remember.
I'm dating myself, but I can recall when I started high school football in 1965, there was basically nothing going on in the summer at our school in Illinois. We weren't very good, and maybe that's part of the reason why, but I suspect that we were not the only ones that had no summer football program. Oh, starting my sophomore year in '66 a new coach was hired and he had seniors lead workouts 2 weeks before the first official practice. It was low key and not well attended or taken seriously by the players. The coach was no where to be seen, I assume because it was against the rules, so there was no coaching. Basically, the season started on the first day of practice around the third week in August. It truly was "hell week" because we were so out of shape. The coaches had 3 weeks to get us physically and mentally ready for the first game in the middle of September. We started in the middle of September and finished a week before Thanksgiving. There were no playoffs in Illinois. Offenses and defenses weren't as sophisticated and most teams ran the football at least ninety per cent of the time. Passes were thrown now and then to make our opponents think we actually had a passing game. What a difference from today! Programs now resemble efficient college programs.

To be competitive in today's world of high school football, coaches must do what they can to keep getting better. Sometimes I think it would be okay to go back to the old days of limited work in the summertime. As long as everyone gets the same amount of time, it's fair for all. Today's high school football player truly needs to be dedicated and committed to the program. I think today's coach does a great job of motivating his player's all year round. Regardless of how we feel about today's approach, this is the way it is and I sure don't see it changing anytime soon. I would only emphasize that it's important to work hard - but try to keep it fun!