Flathead football coach Kyle Samson gave his team a break from the rigor of two-a-day practices Thursday but it was not a move made by design.

The Braves’ football, soccer and cross country teams were all required to practice indoors because of air quality concerns in the Flathead Valley – a result of the many wildfires burning in the area.

Flathead High School Activities Director Bryce Wilson made the decision to bring everything inside at 6:45 a.m. Thursday after consulting the Montana Department of Environmental Quality website. Conditions in the Flathead Valley at 6 a.m. Thursday were classified in the “unhealthy” range. That designation advises “active children and adults … to avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.”

Wilson said the air quality website is “something we monitor and check constantly.”

Samson and the Braves were able to make the most of their time indoors, conducting walkthroughs and watching film.

“You do actually get a lot out of (indoor) practices because it sharpens everyone’s focus,” Samson said. “You can work on the mental part of the game more than the physical part of the game. We had been out there 11 (practices) in a row so this might help their legs a little bit.”

At Glacier High School, the Wolfpack moved all afternoon practices inside and shortened the football team’s morning workout. As of Wednesday night, no decision had been made on the status of today’s practices at either school.

While Samson took losing one day in stride, the Braves’ coach is itching to get back outdoors with the opening of the football season just one week away.

“We can get stuff done indoors, but we can’t do any hitting and there’s not a lot of space,” Samson said. “We’re hoping to get back out there soon.”