The upcoming high school football season might seem ages away, but for the four-time defending Class L state champion New Canaan Rams, it's never too early to pick up the pigskin.
Head coach Lou Marinelli led his younger players through a week of drills to prepare to fill the holes left by outgoing seniors. The basics of tackling, blocking, and memorizing play routes were the priority, as the field became a football classroom. The week began with simple walkthroughs and ended with pads and full contact.
"It's not so much about the game or about trying to get your first team figured out," Marinelli said. "It's more about teaching kids the fundamentals of the game so that they have a chance in the fall to be a little more successful and to be safer."
Marinelli said he uses the more laid back atmosphere of spring practices to take time to work with younger players still learning the system of New Canaan's complicated spread offense.
"You're not under pressure to get a certain play in," Marinelli said. "It's all about technique."
The spring is also an important time to go through necessary permission forms, hand out equipment, set up summer weight training regimens for players, and other housekeeping procedures. The impending season is never far from any player or coach's mind, however.
"I think we have a good group of kids coming back," Marinelli said. "Our goal, certainly, is to be in a position where we are fighting for the FCIAC championship fighting to make the state tournament and to be able to defend our state title."
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