Tinkering with the tuneup

Preseason scrimmages are like opinions, but not only because

everyone has one. Prep football coaches, it seems, have differing

views about how best to utilize the dress rehearsal, including issues

as elemental as, well, how to dress.

Practice attire has become the wardrobe of choice for Newport-Mesa

schools, the coaches for which are among those who believe the

scrimmage experience should purposely look and feel different than an

actual game.

Playing in the afternoon, rather than under stadium lights, is

another means toward this end. Additionally, structuring the

scrimmage format into fragmented situational series can make it

virtually impossible to declare a winner/loser.

Corona del Mar High and Costa Mesa diffuse the “scoreboard”

mentality further by entering three-team scrimmage agreements.

Preventing outside evaluation is yet another concern for coaches,

who invariably shuffle their scrimmage schedule in order to attend

and scout their Week 1 opponent’s scrimmage. That means a good

portion, if not all of their opponent’s coaching staff is in the

stands watching them compete, as well.

With practice numbers that differ from those of game jerseys, it

can be a challenge to identify personnel for scouting purposes. CdM,

in fact, makes it virtually impossible by competing in practice

jerseys which have no numbers at all.

Subterfuge, however, is only part of the motivation for the

aversion to making the scrimmage an “11th game.”

A couple local coaches said keeping the scrimmage experience low

key helps to preserve the unique anticipation and atmosphere that

comes with the actual season opener.

Other coaches believe they can learn more about their teams by

slicing the flow of the scrimmage into controlled segments, rather

than the move-the-chains constricts of a regulation contest.

It is, of course, difficult to improve and instruct goal-line

situations, when either long touchdowns or strong defense, prevent

snaps in the red zone.

Coaches are also aware that concerns about lengthening the season

(treating the scrimmage as an additional game) fueled arguments

against the teaching tool. Those arguments were successful until the

scrimmage, originally eliminated when the CIF Southern Section

extended the regular season from nine games to 10, following the 1978

campaign, was reinstated in 1999.

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The aforementioned number shuffling obviously presents a challenge

for us reporter types, who are accustomed to condensing the action on

the field to a scrawled shorthand that we later translate (with the

help of a roster) into reports of game action.

But whatever problems the preseason scrimmage creates, the ability

to watch action from the field (behind the offense) is one positive I

annually appreciate.

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Another unique aspect of the late start to this year’s prep

football season -- schools typically play their first game, not a

scrimmage, during the first week school is back in session -- was the

appearance of a sizable crowd at the Mission Viejo High stadium, the

site of Newport Harbor’s annual scrimmage against the Diablos.

Students getting out of classes streamed into the stands and along

one end zone to watch the afternoon action Friday.