News Summary
Downtown Los Angeles is gearing up for the high school football season, set to start soon after the summer 7-on-7 passing tournament. With differing practice start dates depending on the game schedule, teams must adhere to regulations requiring a five-day acclimatization period before full-contact practices. Amid rising concerns due to recent ICE raids affecting local families, coaches are adapting practice schedules to support players and families. Noteworthy matchups are scheduled, including a highly anticipated game between Mission Viejo and Santa Margarita.
Downtown Los Angeles is preparing for the upcoming high school football season, which is set to begin soon after the conclusion of the summer 7-on-7 passing tournament. The first practices of the 2025 season will commence with two different start dates, depending on the game schedule. Teams that are slated to start their season in Week 0, which runs from August 21 to August 23, can commence practice as early as Monday, while Week 1 teams will start on August 4.
In accordance with state regulations, a five-day “acclimatization period” is required before teams can engage in full-contact practices. During this period, only helmets are worn for the first three days, transitioning to shoulder pads on the following two days. Each team is limited to one on-field practice per day, with practice sessions lasting no longer than two hours. During this acclimatization phase, blocking and tackling are strictly prohibited.
Actual full gear practices are permitted for Week 0 teams starting on August 2, while Week 1 teams can gear up beginning on August 9. Additionally, a two-week “dead period” can be observed at any time from the end of the academic year until the start of school, provided it consists of consecutive days. Importantly, a football team cannot play its first game until it has completed a minimum of 14 days of practice, and players must participate in at least 10 days of practice to be eligible for games.
Notable match-ups among Week 0 games include a highly anticipated clash between Mission Viejo and Santa Margarita at Trabuco Hills High on August 22. This game will mark the coaching debut of Carson Palmer for Santa Margarita, a team that finished last season with a 5-7 record, albeit making it to the playoffs. In contrast, Mission Viejo experienced a successful regular season, finishing 10-0 before being eliminated in the quarterfinals. In national rankings, Mater Dei is currently positioned as the No. 1 team by MaxPreps.com, preparing to face St. Thomas Aquinas from Florida on August 23. Other Trinity League teams, including JSerra and Servite, will also compete on August 22.
While teams are gearing up for the season, many families in downtown Los Angeles, particularly those associated with the Contreras Learning Center, Roybal, and Belmont, are facing heightened anxiety due to recent ICE raids. These raids have caused significant disruption, resulting in over 2,700 arrests, affecting both undocumented individuals and U.S. citizens. Concerns surrounding safety have led to more than 20 players from Contreras missing summer practice, with parents expressing fears for their children’s safety.
The enrollment at Belmont has dwindled to fewer than 700 students, which has adversely affected sports participation and team formations. As a response to these safety concerns, coaches such as Manuel Guevara, Michael Galvan, and Kenneth Daniels have come together to provide support for affected players and families. The coaches are also modifying practice schedules to account for parental anxiety regarding safety amidst ongoing immigration fears.
Looking ahead, the Garfield-Roosevelt game is scheduled for October 24, with officials discussing possible security measures to ensure the safety of players and spectators. Throughout the season, coaches plan to continuously address the safety of their players as immigration issues remain a pressing concern in the community.
The area around MacArthur Park has notably experienced a decline in activity levels and a rise in community worry, as ICE operations persist in creating an atmosphere of uncertainty among families. As the high school football season approaches, the resilience and adaptability of coaches, players, and families will be essential as they navigate through these challenging times.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times: High School Football Impacted by ICE Raids
- San Gabriel Valley Tribune: 2025 High School Football Team Previews
- Sports Illustrated: 2025 High School Football Preseason Power 25 Rankings
- High School Football America: Final 2024 California Top 25 Rankings
- Visalia Times-Delta: California High School Football Scores for CIF Round 2 Playoffs
- Wikipedia: High School Football
- Google Search: High School Football Safety Concerns
- Google Scholar: High School Football Community Impact
- Encyclopedia Britannica: High School Football
- Google News: High School Football Season 2025
