The 7-on-7 football competition season is in full swing and just about every coach you talk to will have a different set of priorities for the competitions that take place throughout July.

For Clinton High School football coach Ron Bass, he calls 7-on-7 competitions more of a teaching tool. He points out he emphasizes less of the score keeping and more of the competition component.

Some 7-on-7 competitions, like the Normal West and Washington events, offer alternate competitions to engage entire programs - such as lineman challenges which encompass weightlifting aspects. From year one to year two, Clinton saw great improvements among its big kids up front and Coach Bass says the year two to year three improvement is being noticed at these events.

The official start of the high school football season is Aug. 7. Coach Bass hopes to have everyone up to speed on the things they are doing which would lay the foundation for implementing more schemes and packages as the season goes along.

During June and July, Coach Bass has done some team-building activities with the kids. They've been paintballing and bowling with plans to have a golf outing still this summer.