How some top high school football coaches are adjusting to life under coronavirus guidelines

Video: St. John Bosco wins state title

With schools shutdown across the country and spring sports in jeopardy of being canceled, the next thought turns to high school football in the fall.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to force most of the country to shelter in place, it's hard to tell what's to become of the football season. Will there be a full schedule? Will states and leagues have to adjust if this crisis heads into the summer? Those answers will, no doubt, come in time.

What we do know is coronavirus already has affected how football programs approach their offseason. We spoke to five of the country's most successful coaches to see how they're dealing with a "new normal" and adjusting on the fly.

We asked three questions. These are their responses.

"The COVID-19 virus has completely disrupted our way of football life in our program this spring. We, like every program across the country, have had to shut down our off-season program. St. John Bosco is closed and we are not allowed to have any physical contact with our players, on or off campus.

Our primary form of communication is through our Hudl messenger. We use this resource if we need to get quick messages to our players. Although school is not in session on campus, we are still proceeding ahead academically through our Google online services and our online remote learning center: Schoology.

Recruiting for our student-athletes is business as usual from a program standpoint. Our communications with college programs continue to operate like it would at this point of the off-season. At Bosco, we have incredible relationships with every college program across the country and our staff has been in full communication with our normal collegiate recruiting directors and their staffs. One of the benefits for our players being in a program like ours is we are prepared and can adapt to the changing recruiting landscape such as the one we are currently facing. We still have all of our coaches working, film is being shared, and recruiting for our athletes is a priority for us even more at this time."

Roger Harriott, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

"This unfortunate crisis has obviously had an adverse affect on us. However, working through adversity with motivation is a fundamental aspect of our team culture at St. Thomas Aquinas. As a solution to this problematic circumstance, we are using all practical forms of communication technology to keep in close contact with our players and effectively disseminate information to them. These are tough times, but it is an opportunity to adjust, adapt, improvise and overcome."

"The lack of organized workouts presents a new challenge. Our off-season is very, very key to what we do so we have had to adjust. In the grand scheme of things complaining about workouts isn't self-aware so we are focusing on what we can do."

"We are unable to work out our kids on campus until we return to school and it has affected our off-season weight training program and our speed/skill camp that runs twice a week. It also affects our track program, which is the foundation of our team speed. Our kids tested out really well in the weight room before spring break, so we will pick back up upon our return to school. I have communicated with the kids and parents through email and text messaging on how we are adjusting with anything that been postponed or rescheduled.

As for recruiting, coaches contact me daily for our prospect list and general evaluations on our players. I am not sure they will get eyes on them this spring, so that is a little different than in the past. Everyone will adapt due to the nature of our sport, and the recruiting process is no different."

"The impact is obviously profound. Initially we had satellite gyms set up and ready to take on players after school went out. But then the gyms were shut down. Our players have workout apps on their phone. Some have equipment at home, some don't. We have 15-20 minute outdoor work for them to do if possible.

We communicate every day with our players through a program called 'Remind.' We do it all year but it is a great daily touch base form of mass communication. Basically just keeping everyone positive, reminding them of health, nutrition, academic, film and hygiene tips and staying connected. It is important for us all to stay connected, hearing the same message as always just delivered in a different way.

Recruiting has changed for sure. I have been in contact with coaches and have done phone follow ups. It is a challenge for everyone. Right now their health is paramount. We will catch up with all the other stuff."

"We are facing unprecedented times and I do not really know if anybody knows what the new normal is going to bring. I do know that we are resilient and as Americans we will overcome this and come out stronger on the other end. I can assure you the same can be said for Bosco football. We talk about overcoming adversity and being able to adapt to situations that we are faced with during various phases of the season. This is a minor disruption to our season, however the good thing is we as a football community across the country are all in this together.

We are doing remote learning and depending on how long we are forced to isolate and be away from school will determine what we do regarding spring practice. We are scheduled to start spring ball on April 20, but this time frame is still up in the air at the moment. At this time our quarterback and our offensive coordinator are having remote learning sessions through the Google Meet platform so they are having our normal install meetings using virtual technology. If self isolation continues as we begin spring practice we will have to install our entire offensive and defensive systems virtually through Google Meet and Hudl.

All we can do right now is work on the mental part of the game. The physical part is a little more difficult. Unless our players have an at-home gym they are completely cut off from any weight training or heavy conditioning. One thing we have done is prepared a workout program for our players which is in two phases. One phase is for those who have access to weight equipment and the other phase is for those who do not have weight equipment. This is a day-by-day workout plan for the time we are missing not being on campus. I am confident our strength and conditioning staff will have our kids prepared physically for the season."

"As a staff, our objective is to facilitate a system conductive for direct interaction, player accountability, ownership and responsibility. We have strategically designed and implemented a comprehensive nutritional plan and home workout program for them that is followed up by their positional coach and our designated team leaders in each position. Although we are currently experiencing a global crisis, I believe this situation is going to be advantageous for much needed humanistic interaction and also increase interpersonal support via FaceTime and Skype as resources."

We communicate through our schools online platform Schoology and through Hudl. Last week, we sent at home workouts and what expectations we had. This week it will ramp up and include leader-driven accountability work and knowledge of our scheme.

"We are unable to meet or workout with our kids. We will forward our installs for spring practice to players through Hudl as we enter the month of April. Our kids are highly motivated individuals and are finding ways to train as we go through this difficult time."

"At this time we are strongly recommending our players and staff stay home and adhere to the rules and regulations placed upon us by our cities, state, and government leaders across the USA. I think it is important for all of us to conform to what we are being asked to do and to conduct ourselves appropriately. This is a serious situation and we need to model responsible behavior as a staff and demand our players do the same. We are not encouraging them to go out and have group activities or group gatherings because they want to get ahead. Now is not the time for that type of behavior. We do want our quarterbacks to continue throwing in a responsible manner and have instructed them to do so. The important thing is we need to ride this out by listening to the professionals so we can return to normalcy quicker."

"Based on the mandate of social distancing, we are praying and providing virtual support at this time. Staying optimistically interconnected with encouraging words has been helpful during this difficult time. Be careful and care for others. Stay healthy and safe with a positive mindset."

"Overall message is first and foremost be safe and follow safety guidelines. Second main item is perspective and understanding where we are and what matters most. Third item is that we have clear expectations of our student athletes and expect them to maintain their schoolwork and workouts we are sending."

"Nothing at this point in time — we are following the guidelines that have been set forth by the United States. Once that has changed, we will get back to work as a program. Football is a game of adversity. You must be able to adapt, adjust and overcome the obstacles in front of you. Once we have successfully resolved this issue as a nation, then we will move forward as a program for the 2020 season."