SOUTH JORDAN — A couple weeks after the majority of the other high school football teams in the state got started, teams in the Jordan School District were permitted to start practicing this week.
For Bingham football coach Dave Peck, who’s entering his second stint at the program after a five-year layoff, he said it was great to be back on the field again with the players.
For the most part it was a typical June practice of conditioning and weightlifting, but the restrictions caused by COVID-19 certainly added another layer of inconveniences that all teams are dealing with.
Teams in Jordan School District can never have more than 50 players in a certain area, and even less is encouraged. So before practice this week, Peck made sure his offensive players entered the stadium from the south side and the defensive players from the north side.
Once the players arrived they immediately had their temperatures checked by a coach wearing a mask, and confirmed if they had any symptoms of sickness. The players eventually divided off into their groups and worked on their assigned drills.
The absence of a big team huddle and cheer, the camaraderie associated with it, was noticeably missing.
“It definitely makes a difference, you want to just ... have everybody come and just come out and practice,” said Peck. “It definitely disrupts really everything we’re trying to do.”
Despite the inconveniences, Peck has no worry whatsoever that his team will be ready for its season opener on Aug. 14 against Weber.
“I think we’re going to be just as ready on game 1. I’ve done so many all-star games where we’ve thrown an offense and defense together in two or three days. I’ve taken all-star groups to Vegas where we have one practice. I don’t think it’s going to have a major effect.” — Bingham coach Dave Peck
“I think we’re going to be just as ready on game 1. I’ve done so many all-star games where we’ve thrown an offense and defense together in two or three days. I’ve taken all-star groups to Vegas where we have one practice. I don’t think it’s going to have a major effect,” said Peck.
Individually, some players will certainly be more ready than others. Peck said that even though the coaches held Zoom meetings whenever they could over the past three months while school was closed, and encouraged players to work out and stay in shape, some were clearly more diligent than others.
“Some of them are in a lot better shape than others. Now it’s our job to get them back in shape,” said Peck.
One thing that will help a lot of players up their fitness and their understanding of the playbook are 7-on-7 camps. The larger camps hosted by universities and typically take place in early June have been canceled because of COVID-19, but many of the smaller camps hosted by individual high schools will continue to take place over the next three weeks.
For new Woods Cross coach Tyler Gladwell, who was at Layton a year ago, those opportunities are very important to prepare for the season.
“It helps us learn our offense and defense, but it puts them in a position where they have to compete, which then helps you as a coach when you’re trying to make decisions on what kids to play at what position, or where they fall as a starter or a backup,” said Gladwell. “Without competition you’re losing out on some of those opportunities, so it’s really important to do some of those things if you can.”
Gladwell said that since his team was allowed to start practicing earlier this month, helping the players maintain appropriate social distancing has been a challenge.
“The biggest thing is you have to constantly remind the kids to space out. If we’re doing a drill, there’s kids doing the drill but then there’s kids waiting to do the drill, so you’re constantly having to tell those kids to space out, don’t stand next to each other.” — Woods Cross coach Tyler Gladwell
“The biggest thing is you have to constantly remind the kids to space out. If we’re doing a drill, there’s kids doing the drill but then there’s kids waiting to do the drill, so you’re constantly having to tell those kids to space out, don’t stand next to each other,” said Gladwell.
When Woods Cross’ players arrive for practice, after their temperatures are checked, instead of mingling with teammates before practice they’re required to go sit in the stands about 6 feet away from each other.
It’s an annoyance shared by most of the state, but one players and coaches are willing to go through as they prepare for the hopeful start of the season on Aug. 14.