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Football Dead Period Begins, Practice, Scrimmage Schedule Set
Bruin practice
Though active with non-contact practices earlier this summer, Riverbank High football athletes were in the ‘dead period’ beginning on Monday, July 12. As the fall term approaches, they are limited to weight training before official practices begin July 26. The first scrimmage game is set for Aug. 13, just a week after classes begin for the 2021-22 school year. Ric McGinnis/The News

While Bruin football players have been working out this summer, working on playing techniques and physical drills to stay in shape, this week the official ‘dead’ period began for teams in the Trans-Valley League and others throughout the Sac-Joaquin Section.

Training during this period is confined to weight training, with the official start for formal practices set for Monday, July 26 and the first scrimmage allowed on Friday, Aug. 13. School classes are set to begin on campus on Thursday, Aug. 5.

When they are allowed to begin, the league specifies that freshman-sophomore teams can practice starting at 5 p.m., with varsity going 30 minutes after JV is finished, but not before 7 p.m.

After that first scrimmage, on Saturday, Aug. 13, the league has set four Fridays, Aug. 20, 27, Sept. 3 and 10 for non-league preseason games, but has not yet indicated the school match-ups.

Trans-Valley League play begins on week five, Friday, Sept. 17, but Riverbank has a bye. The league schedule starts for them on Friday, Sept. 24, when the Bruins host Modesto Christian High School.

They’ll play on the road for the next two Fridays, then host Escalon’s Cougars on Friday, Oct. 15. On the road again on Oct. 22, Riverbank will close out its 2021 season at home on Friday, Oct. 29, against Hilmar.

Girls volleyball practice starts on Monday, Aug. 2, as does co-ed cross country and girls golf.