Indians look solid in first football practice

By: 
Mickey Alvarado

Tecumseh’s new football coach Greg Dolson and the Indians had their first official practice of the 2016 season on Monday afternoon at Indian Stadium. Their first game is on August 25. Photo by Mickey Alvarado.

Football season has officially begun. Member schools of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) started practicing for the 2016 fall football season on Monday.
 
Tecumseh’s new varsity football coach Greg Dolson and his Indians looked solid during their first practice of the year. Dolson had the varsity squad working out on the north side of the stadium and the junior varsity team on the south end of the field.
 
As music blasted out, the Indians’ players were put through several drills and timed breaks were set in motion for water consumption with the temperature reading 81 degrees. Dolson had the players pumped within minutes of the workout, especially when jumping in and singing some of the opening lyrics to DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s hit song “Turn Down for What” when it came out of the loud speakers. However, Dolson was strictly business when putting the players through the drills.
 
Tecumseh’s fall sports media day is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 17 and Dolson will be interviewed then for his preseason preview on the Indians.
 
Tecumseh’s first varsity football game is set for Thursday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. against Chandler Park Academy at Adrian College.
 
Clinton’s varsity football team hosts Manchester on Friday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m., while Britton Deerfield plays at Lenawee Christian the same evening at 7 p.m.
~
A MHSAA press release noted that the biggest rule change in football was that clipping has been eliminated:
 
Eliminating clipping from the high school game is the latest step in the national playing rules promulgated by the National Federation of State High School Associations.   Clipping previously was permitted in the free-blocking zone when it met three conditions; however, clipping is now illegal anywhere on the field at any time. According to the rule, the free-blocking zone is defined as a rectangular area extending laterally four yards either side of the spot of the snap and three yards behind each line of scrimmage.
 
Practice in football had to start on August 8 for all schools wanting to begin regular-season games the weekend of August 25-27. Schools must have 12 days of preseason practice at all levels before their first game, and those 12 days of practice may not occur before 16 calendar days.
 
Practice sessions for all other sports began Wednesday (Aug. 10). In golf and tennis, competition may commence no earlier than after three separate days of team practice, and not before seven calendar days. The first day competition may take place in golf and tennis is August 17. In all other fall sports, contests can take place after seven days of practice for the team and not before nine calendar days. The first day competition may take place in cross country, tennis, soccer, swimming and diving and volleyball is August 19.
 
This fall, two football dates again precede Labor Day, and a number of MHSAA schools will play their first varsity games on Thursday, Aug. 25.  In Week 1, 131 varsity games will be played on Thursday, 169 contests will be played on Friday and 17 games will be played on Saturday.  In the second week, 245 games will take place on Thursday, 62 will be played on Friday and six contests are on Saturday.
 
A few notable changes will go into effect for other fall sports:
 
•  In cross country, a participant who assists an injured or ill competitor when the appropriate health care professional is not available no longer will be disqualified from the race; only the runner receiving assistance will be disqualified for not finishing the race unassisted.
 
•  In soccer, changes were made to the offside rule that makes it match offside rules for the NCAA and FIFA/USSF. The most notable change states that a player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save) is not considered to have gained an advantage and can move ahead toward attempting to score a goal. A player who does receive the ball while in offside position after a deliberate save remains offside, and the result is an indirect kick for the defending team.
 
•  Also in soccer, eliminating of rough play will be a point of emphasis this school year. Rough play including contact above the shoulder often results in player injury.
 
•  In volleyball, a change to rules on uniforms aims to make the libero more recognizable from all angles. Beginning this fall, the libero, her teammates, or both will be required to wear a solid-colored uniform top; the libero’s top must clearly contrast the predominant color(s) of her teammates’ uniform tops. Also related the uniforms, soft hair devices, formerly no more than two inches in width, may now be up to three inches in width.
 
•  Also in volleyball, a service toss that contacts a basketball backboard or its supports in a vertical position over the serving area is a service fault and not eligible for a re-serve. The opponent receives a point and the next serve.
 
The 2016 fall campaign culminates with postseason tournaments beginning with the Upper Peninsula Girls Tennis Finals the week of September 26, and wraps up with the 11-Player Football Playoff Finals on November 25 and 26.

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