Gridiron beckons return

The countdown to the beginning of the football season is almost over.
Practice sessions start this upcoming Monday and the gridiron heroes head to Saginaw Valley State University on Sunday night.
They will wake up Monday morning ready and amped to get ready for the 2012 season.
“It’s a bonding thing,” explained Kurt Richardson, head coach for the Clarkston Boys Varsity Football team. “They get to room with each other and live with each other.”
They are at camp until Wednesday and will have three practices a day.
Though, it is too early to tell how the season will go for the Wolves, Richardson is pumped for a new season. He admitted he was ready for the football season 3-4 months ago.
The boys return and will have a few more days of practice before they head into their Fourth Annual Football for a Cure, August 11. The players will don baby blue and light pink jerseys for their pre-scrimmage game.
On Monday, the Michigan High School Athletic Association announced rule changes for the 2012 season in football.
They are as follows:
? On passing plays, a receiver must first contact and establish control of the ball while inbounds ? regardless of the opponent’s action. In other words, a catch cannot be ruled on plays where the receiver may have come down in bounds if not for the action of the defender.
? If a player’s helmet comes off during a play, and did not occur as a result of a foul by the opponent, that player must leave the game for one play, unless it happens on the final play of a half or an overtime.
? Hand contact by a blocker below the waist of a defender is now considered blocking below the waist.
? The kicking team may not contact a member of receiving team on a kickoff until the ball has traveled 10 yards, or unless a member of the receiving team initiates the contact.
? Jerseys of the visiting team must be white in color, and home jerseys are restricted in the use of white for varsity competition. The rule change was made in 2007 for implementation this season.
As the Wolves are getting ready for action, so are we. We are getting the pieces together for the 2012 Gridiron Special Section, including rosters, preview to the season and photos.