TIFTON — Tift County spent its first week back on the field for football practice and head coach Ashley Anders likes what he sees.

“I’m pleased,” said Anders. “I think the kids did a bit more than what we were expecting. They showed up in pretty good shape.”

The Georgia High School Association permitted teams to start conditioning June 8, the first sanctioned athletic activity allowed since coronavirus shut down spring sports in March. 

Though not a spring sport, most football teams across the state use the latter part of the school year to prepare for the upcoming season. Coronavirus meant none of that happened this year.

Anders had worried about players’ conditioning during the time away. While coaches could stay in communication with their athletes, practices were not permitted before June 8. But even without the watchful eyes of the coaching staff, Tift players continued to stay busy while sheltering in place. Many posted workout photos and videos to social media.

Beyond conditioning, players were also permitted back in the weight room last week. Anders was pleased with that work as well. Tift has a new strength and conditioning coach, Michael Doscher, and he’s working with athletes from all sports.

Anders said that everyone they expected to play football turned up for the sessions. 

Eight groups are conditioning, five varsity and three freshmen. 

The return of conditioning practices are held under guidelines issued by the GHSA. Groups are limited to 20 in size and cannot be on more than one campus at the same time Coaches must fill out a questionnaire each day for their players and conduct temperature checks. Weight rooms are deep-cleaned after use and players must use individual water bottles.

Teams are permitted to use fields at two different locations concurrently and Anders said Tift is doing that. The freshmen groups are at Eighth Street Middle.

“This is a really big freshmen class,” he said. “I’m really excited about this group.”

The small group sizes may seem restrictive to some coaches. 

Anders may think about implementing it or something similar in future seasons, at least with the ninth graders. “I like having the groups, because you’re able to break everything down a little bit more. You can concentrate on a little bit more instructions, rather than trying to work out 60 at one time.”

Last week, the GHSA said it would permit up to 25 in groups, if the athletes joining them were newcomers to conditioning practices. Anders said that won’t affect his bunch as everyone is already participating.

Conditioning practices will go on indefinitely. Many coaches are hopeful that after the annual dead week (June 28-July 4) that they will be permitted to use sport-specific equipment.

 The regular season is scheduled to start Aug. 21 at Crisp County.