It's all business on the football field at Serra this summer. Conditioning began on June 3 for all three teams, comprising upwards of 250 dedicated Padre student athletes.

Serra's varsity football team began its workout in the early morning at 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., dubbed "Dawn Patrol." The JV team works out from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and freshmen hit the field from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This schedule continues throughout the summer during the weeks allowed by league rules. 

According to Serra JV Coach John Langridge '97, football conditioning during the summer is an essential part of a player's development and provides a foundation for peak performance during the competitive season. 

"Engaging in structured training during the off-season offers numerous benefits, both physically and mentally. It also helps to build camaraderie and build your bonds - you need to sweat it out all summer together for two months in the summer to start strong
as a team when the official season begins," said Langridge, who has coached football at Serra for 22 years. 

A typical practice consists of teams splitting in half - with one half running and conditioning and the other in the weight room for strength training.  The last hour is spent on tactical training, which includes running routes, drills and simulations that help players understand game strategies and tactics. 

"This knowledge is crucial for making quick decisions and executing plays effectively during games," Langridge said. "We do a lot of  7v7 drills, we have the linemen hit bags, we run through plays while holding bags, have the offense run plays and do a lot of install in the summer to prepare for the season." 

Serra athletes will be off for a mandatory rest time of July 29 to  August 4. But come Aug. 5, all three teams will return to the football field, this time wearing pads, as they anticipate another spectacular football season. Per league rules, the first three days of practice are helmets only, the next two helmets and pads and on the sixth day of practice, athletes will practice in full pads.