[Fly Like a Duck]

The "problem" is school starting so early (as early as August 1st for some across the state). Back in the day(s), when school started in late August, there wasn't any need to start "practice" until the 1st of August or even the last week of July at the earliest. Why? Because you had practically a whole month to get practice in, which, typically meant a week of practice, then a few days of Two-A-Days, followed by a week of "camp" (where you could scrimmage any and everybody as much as you wanted), then an official scrimmage at the end of camp week, followed by week one of the season.

As far as Summer baseball getting cut shorter, well, tough. Not to turn this thread into that kind of debate, but football ends for most in mid November, and you can't do squat as far as any organized "practice" until given 10 whopping days in April (or round-a-bouts depending on when your basketball seasons are over). Baseball and basketball can play 872 games in June, then have "Open Gym" in July, not to mention AAU. They get heads and shoulders more time than football has ever thought about or ever will get, school affiliated or not. (Keep in mind, I'm not against those sports getting this time either, but why it takes an act of congress in trying to get football the same amount of competition before the actual season begins as they do, is beyond me.)