Coaches getting their teams through the pandemic

“We will bring the players in for teo weeks of strength and conditioning in smaller groups before we resume any actual football activities.”

It’s uncharted territory for area football coaches, and their players.

“We hope to begin the 2020 season with outdoor training on July 1, and it will be like no other offseason any of us has been a part of,” Upper Dublin coach Bret Stover said.

Safety plans are now being put in place so that teams can prepare safely following the shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s been a while since area teams suited up: the end of the winter season was lost, and the entire spring season was wiped out.

Preparing for fall 2020 will require some extra care.

– Ed Gallagher Souderton Area football coach.

“We will be going through a screening process with each athlete and coach before they will be allowed out of their vehicles,” Stover said.

NEW EXPERIENCE » Summer workouts and practices are a busy enough time, as players are evaluated and developed, and rosters and depth charts are developed with scrutiny.

This summer, there are some new challenges.

“This summer is completely different than all of those in the

past,” Souderton Area coach Ed Gallagher said. “The PIAA has allowed school districts to come up with their own plans for bringing student athletes back into schools and facilities for workouts.”

Teams may bring things along slowly at first.

“We will bring the players in for two weeks of strength and conditioning in smaller groups,” Gallagher said, “before we resume any actual football activ

MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO Cheltenham players shake hands with Upper Dublin’s team captain and quarterback, Mike Slivka, who was injured.