Working out with football pads early changes approach

While driving by a high school football field recently, people with suspicious minds may have wondered if coaches were trying to pull a fast one.

Why are the players working out in pads already, in the middle of July? Are coaches breaking the rules, trying to get an advantage?

Put the conspiracy theories to rest. Under updated New Mexico Activities Association rules, helmets/pads are now allowed in a limited capacity for two consecutive weeks before the start of official in-season practices.

Teams must follow a specific protocol, including getting approval of their local administration. For the first two workouts, shorts and helmets are allowed, eventually progressing to full pads and contact in week two.

The initial response from Valencia County coaches seems to be mostly positive.

“It’s good for us, so far,” said LeDarrius Cage, Valencia’s head coach.

Cage believes it helps with “physicality,” especially for linemen.

“The linemen usually have to wait until August to really get going,” said Cage. “Now that they have pads, we can do a lot more inside run stuff and work on our run game.”

Cage and many coaches prefer a regular routine from day to day and year to year.

“It puts a wrench in my schedule,” admits Cage, but, “We figured it out. We’ll adjust to do what we’ve got to do to make sure we’re keeping up with everybody.”

Down the road in Belen, the Jaguars’ new district rivals are also wrapping up offseason drills.

“We’re not doing a lot of contact, even though we have full pads on,” said BHS coach Kevin Peña. “For us, it’s getting the kids in shape, getting them used to their equipment. In the long run, I think it will be beneficial.”

Peña would have liked more flexibility in choosing the dates, perhaps splitting up the two weeks, but the NMAA dictates the workouts must be held in consecutive weeks.

To avoid the heat, most schools are practicing early in the morning or in the evening, which is what Peña chose.

“Practicing in the evenings has benefited us tremendously,” the coach said. “The kids have more energy.”

Valencia and Los Lunas opted for morning sessions, with the Tigers wrapping up their preseason schedule last week.

“I thought it was really good,” said LLHS head coach Greg Henington. “We got a lot of kinks out that you normally deal with in early August. Equipment is checked out, we got things fixed up, got some of the rust off.”

The workouts also gave players a peek at the philosophy of new defensive coordinator Nathanial Charley. However, the best thing, said Henington, is that no one got hurt, leaving the Tigers “ready to get rolling. I think it’s going to give us a little jump start.”

Official practice for New Mexico football teams is Monday, Aug. 5. Los Lunas, Belen and Valencia each play a home game on Aug. 23 to start the season.

Kirtland Central is at Valencia, Bloomfield visits Belen and Los Lunas hosts Roswell.