High school football practice kicked off this week, despite little help from mother nature.

While summer thunderstorms have helped keep temperatures mercifully low, it has also put many local teams in a place they don’t want to be, the gym.

Wednesday at Dallas County, coach Rick Bush was upbeat as his team practiced in the school’s old gym.

The team found a way to get some important work in despite the weather.

Bush said indoor practice is a change for the players and it’s important to have good senior leadership to show the younger players how to keep focused.

The Alabama Independent School Association schools start classes a little later. AISA schools, like Meadowview Christian, have had the option of using two-a-day practices.

Meadowview coach Rick Jackson has had to move his team inside for the morning work, but has had them outside for the evening practices.

The rain has kept temperatures down which can be a plus and a minus.

The higher practice temperatures, if handled properly, can help prepare the players for high temperatures on game day.

But as Jackson points out, the cooler weather has helped players avoid trouble with the heat.

Jackson said he and his Meadowview staff took advantage of summer workouts to educate the players and their families about the dangers of working in the summer heat.

Apparently that education paid off.