Prep football: New season, new rules to follow
By Michael Bower
The helmets and the pads were on Monday for several high schools across the San Diego County, signaling the official start of the prep football season.
Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Del Norte and Maranatha Christian opened fall camp, time — usually about a month — reserved for rigorous conditioning and drilling before the start of the regular season.
“It’s very exciting,” said Poway senior offensive lineman Dominic Hose. “I have been waiting for this season to start all summer long, especially with it being my senior year. ... Just looking forward to everyone performing out here at 100 percent.”
Coaches will have to operate practices under a new set of rules this season. The California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports in the state, passed a rule last May that does not allow two-a-days on consecutive days and no more than 18 hours of practice per week with a limit of four hours per day in any sport.
Two-a-days are when players have two separate practice sessions on one day with a break in between. The rule to not allow consecutive days of two-a-days was made with the safety of the players in mind.
“I am sure we are still going to be out here practicing really hard,” said Poway offensive lineman Jake Michaels. “Limiting the time we have to practice and cutting down the double days won’t change that. I am not sure about the impact it will have on the game. We will have to wait and see.”
Del Norte head coach Leigh Cole says the difference in the length of practices at this time last year to this year are about four to six hours less per week.
“We will go Monday through Saturday for three hours per day,” he said, adding that two-a-days are gone since there is a four-hour time limit per day.
The official opening of the season always brings an upbeat attitude about the upcoming year. Nobody is more excited than Rancho Bernardo’s Devin Goodloe. The senior wide receiver is hoping the Broncos turn things around this year after a dismal 1-9 finish last season.
Goodloe has reason to believe it will happen after Rancho Bernardo captured the La Costa Canyon Passing League championship over the summer. It was the first time the Broncos have won it.
“I am very excited,” Goodloe said. “The passing league showed us that our skill positions are stronger than ever before ... We showed a lot of potential by winning it so I am ready to see what we are about when it comes to real football.”
Rancho Bernardo will be playing in Division II this year along with Del Norte. Maranatha Christian is in Division V and Poway is in Division I. The eight teams in the Open Division playoff — the San Diego Section’s top division — will now be selected after the regular season. Last year, the eight teams selected to play for the title of “Best in the County” were picked before the start of the year.
Del Norte will be preparing to play in a new league this season. The Nighthawks, which earned a piece of their first Valley League championship last season, are now playing in the Avocado East with defending Open Division champion Mission Hills, Rancho Buena Vista, San Marcos and Vista.
The first regular-season games will be played on Aug. 29. A full football preview will be available on Aug. 28.