High school football teams across the region officially opened their fall practice sessions on Monday, marking the start of preparations for the 2026 season. However, the traditional excitement often associated with opening day has diminished, as many programs have been engaged in year-round training activities including conditioning, weightlifting, and installing plays throughout the spring and summer months.

Carson High School, the defending City Section Open Division champion, exemplifies this shift. Coach William Lowe noted that much of the installation work was completed well before Monday, reducing the novelty and chaos that used to characterize the season’s first day. “It’s lost some of those days of nostalgia,” he said. The Colts are beginning their mandatory five-day acclimation period this week, culminating in an intra-squad scrimmage scheduled for Saturday. Their roster includes over 100 players, bolstered by a freshman class of 37.

Lowe emphasized a strategic approach aimed at peaking toward the end of the season rather than early on. The team remains motivated after a narrow playoff loss last year to Delano Kennedy, noting that a lack of size and strength on the offensive and defensive lines was a key factor in that defeat. “We took it to heart getting bigger and stronger,” Lowe said, highlighting extensive work in the weight room.

First-year Whittier coach Lorenzo Hernandez, who previously coached at Garfield in the City Section, shared enthusiasm for the season despite the year-round training trend, stating, “The most exciting thing is you get to put helmets on.”

Players are required to clear physical exams before participating in practices, and a minimum of 14 practice days—including scrimmages—must be completed before competing in games. Athletic directors have returned from summer vacation and are processing transfer paperwork and eligibility documents for players with the Southern Section and City Section.

The previous season was marked by eligibility controversies, with numerous players ruled ineligible due to falsified paperwork. One notable impact was the suspension of the Bishop Montgomery football program; the school has since appointed a new coaching staff and athletic director as the program returns.

Preseason No. 1 team St. John Bosco has begun preparations for its season opener, an August 21 game against Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. Teams in the City Section that did not field varsity football last year—including Sotomayor, Torres, West Adams, and L.A. Jordan—are attempting to return this season. Meanwhile, the City Section also experienced a significant coaching change with Robert Garrett’s departure from Crenshaw in March.

Additionally, girls’ flag football in the Southern Section will start acclimation practices on August 3, with games set to begin on August 8, highlighting the continued growth of the sport at the high school level.