FOOTBALL PRACTICE UNDERWAY IN GALT
GALT — On the third day of high school football practice, Galt and Liberty Ranch players strapped on the shoulder pads.
Both teams, along with Lodi and Tokay squads and the rest of the football programs in the SacJoaquin Section, moved up to the next level of practices on Wednesday. Galt conducted multiple drills on revamped surfaced of the Erv Hatzenbuhler Field at Warrior Stadium, which includes all-field turf, new scoreboard, new home and visitor stands and new bleachers. Liberty Ranch held its practices on the north side of Hawk Stadium, while its junior varsity team practiced on the south end.
Per the section’s bylaws, teams can wear helmets and shoulder pads on the third day. Players, however, can only have contact with block sleds and dummies.
Some additional rules to the early and season workouts that high school football teams must adhere are:
• Teams are allowed to practice twice a day, but only every other day.
• The maximum duration of a single practice session is four hours.
• Teams can start holding 100 percent contact drills on the sixth day — Saturday — and beyond.
According to Will DeBoard, who is the section’s assistant commissioner, 45 minutes is the maximum time allowed per contact hitting/live drills in each practice. A combined 90 minutes is maximum for contact hitting/live drills each week through the end of the season.
On Friday, Aug. 23, Galt and Liberty Ranch, along with Tokay, will open the season in
Week 0. Galt (4-6 last season) will host Woodland Christian. Liberty Ranch (also 4-6 last season) welcomes Johnson of Sacramento at Hawk Stadium. Tokay (0-10 last season) plays at Patterson.
Lodi (3-7 last season) will open its season against Ceres at the Grape Bowl on Friday, Aug. 30.