Last week it was boots and chaps, and cowboys hats as Mineral County residents attended the fair. This week it is cleats, tennis shoes, pads and helmets. As high school athletes take to the field and court to start football and volleyball practice.

This will be the first season of the Superior-Alberton Clark Fork Mountain Cats co-op for football and volleyball. Alberton, which was a six-man team last year, will join Superior in playing eight-man football this year.

Due to dwindling numbers, the two schools chose to co-op last year. However, because of the timing, the teams didn’t merge until the basketball season. They also did not co-op during track. This will be the first full year, which will include all the sports.

Parent meetings were held last week to sign up players. At the meeting, Alberton School principal and athletic director, Kyle Fisher, said that he was looking forward to a good year in all the sports.

Practice started on Friday, and players will alternate schools. They start at 8:15 a.m., with busses leaving at 7:30 a.m. Athletes will practice for two hours, then take a one hour lunch break, then do two more hours of practice until 1:15 p.m. This will be the schedule until the last week of August when school starts.

The first home varsity football game will be held on September 9 in Superior at 7 p.m. against Seeley. The first home varsity game for volleyball will be on August 25 in Alberton against Clark Fork, Idaho. The time is yet to be announced.

Approximately 30 players are sign-up for football, and about 14 volleyball players. This is enough players to have both junior (JV) and varsity teams. Jeff Schultz will be the head football coach, with Nick Weller as assistant coach, along with assistants Charlie Crabb and Chris Quinlivan.

Sportsmanship, team-building, and respect are areas that Schultz tries to instill in his players both on, and off, the field. To solidify the bond between players, Schultz said that he requires his players to hold-hands when they go out onto the field.

“You don’t just ‘like’ your teammates, you ‘love’ your teammates,” said head football coach, Jeff Schultz, as he addressed the boys at the meeting. “These are the guys who are going to have your back on, and off, the field.”

This year, players will also receive a “spirit” pack which will cost $30. It will include a dry-fit t-shirt, shorts and socks for warmups before the game. The team will also receive 12 new concussion helmets, which have extra features to protect the player’s head. Jerseys for the football team have arrived, but they are still waiting for the volleyball uniforms.

Toni Labbe is the head volleyball coach, with Lexi Fisher as assistant coach. Along with assistants, Beth Janie and Taylor Erdman. Labbe said that she is excited for this year and it should be a lot of fun, “it’s a good opportunity for both communities.”

Fisher echoed these sentiments and said that she is excited to get going with the season.

During the parent meeting, Kyle discussed rules for the athletes. They are required to take baseline ImPACT tests, which is Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing.

The school board also made some changes to drug testing. This year, students will be randomly tested for all extra-curricular activities. Superior had implemented a similar program a few years ago which proved to be successful.

Students are tested in the fall, winter and spring, which is funded through a grant. A company in Spokane is given a list of participating students, and that company randomly pulls names to be tested. The test will be for drugs and tobacco products using urine samples.

Prior to this year, Alberton students caught drinking, using drugs, or alcohol, attending parties or just in the presence of students taking part in these activities, would be kicked off the team.

Starting this year, students caught with these substances will be suspended 21 calendar days for their first offense, 42 days for their second, and 63 days for their third offense. Also, suspension follows the season. For example, if a student was suspended at the end of the football season, and they only used 10 of a 21 day suspension, the remaining days would take affect during basketball.

If caught, they will be automatically retested twice. Also, if a student has a D or an F in classes, they are required to participate in study tables.