The Ridgefield High School football team begins its preseason conditioning Monday evening. The freshmen will practice from 5-7 p.m. and the junior varsity and varsity go from 6-8 p.m.
The Tigers actually are getting started a week later than some other schools. Last year, the CIAC adopted a measure in which teams could have the option of conducting traditional spring practice or adding four extra sessions to their summer schedule.
Coaches could pick one or the other, but not both. Ridgefield coach Kevin Callahan opted for the tradional route, meaning the Tigers' first official summer practice was pushed back a week.
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CIAC rules require five days of conditioning before the first full-contact practice can begin. Therefore, Ridgefield won't work out in pads until August 28.
The Tigers host Brookfield on September 1 at 5 p.m. in the first of three preseason scrimmages. Ridgefield's first game is at home against Stamford on September 16 at 7 p.m.
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Callahan is entering his 12th season at Ridgefield. The Tigers are coming off a 9-1 season but missed the state playoffs in the competitive Class LL division.
But the CIAC has changed the playoff format for this season. Instead of six divisions, there will be four in 2010 with eight teams qualifying for the state tournament in each one. Last season, only four teams made the playoffs in the six classes.
The total number of playoff teams for this fall has been increased from 24 to 32, which should help Ridgefield considerably if the team wins eight or nine games.
