New contact rules, but same philosophy for RHS football this summer

Although head coach Aaron Kraemer has far more opportunity to work with his players than in previous summers, not much has changed on the Rhinelander High School football calendar this offseason.

The WIAA membership, at this past April’s annual meeting, eased summer contact restrictions for most high school sports in the state. Once limited to only five contact days in the summer, this summer Kraemer and the Hodags can meet as many days as they want, aside from two dead periods July 1-6 and — specifically for football — July 28 through Aug. 4.

Yet, a glance at the Hodags’ summer calendar reveals not much is different from prior years. The Hodags held a one-day mini-camp this past Wednesday at Mike Webster Stadium leading into the start of the Northwoods 7-on-7 passing league. The team will hold another four-day camp in the middle of July.

Kraemer told the River News on Thursday that he wants to be judicious with the time that he spends with his athletes this summer. 

“I’m a huge proponent on kids having the summer,” he said. “I think they need to get away. The most important thing is that they’re training consistently. That they’re in here in the weight room every single morning. 

“If we load up the calendar in the summer, I think kids will start losing their love for football just because, that constant of being pulled left and right, I think that hurts. I think they have to get out and they have to relax and be kids and work and do different things during the summer.”

Kraemer conceded other programs may not have the same philosophy, but said it is one he feels works best for Rhinelander, given its demographics and number of kids who are multi-sport athletes.

“I heard, (assistant) coach Luke (Roberts) talk about some schools down south, they’re practicing every day right after weight training. I think that’s fantastic for them, but at the same time for us, I think the most important thing for them is that they have a summer. They’re kids yet, and so I want them to enjoy that.”

Perhaps the biggest change, and best opportunity for additional coaching, will take place during the 7-on-7 league that rotates between Rhinelander, Lakeland and Northland Pines on five Thursdays during the summer. 

    Abe Gretzinger takes a snap ahead of tailback Myles Eagleson during a summer contact day at Mike Webster Stadium Wednesday, June 11. The camp led into the start of the Northwoods 7-on-7 Passing League, which began Thursday in Minocqua. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

With unlimited contact, Kraemer said he now has opportunities to instruct players in-game instead of just calling out plays. Furthermore, team members will have the chance to meet and take part in a 90-minute practice prior to each session. 

“We added basically five extra practices during the summer where Thursday nights we’re going to meet from 3:30 to 5 and work through the passing game,” he said. “Our goal is then if we have worked on the passing game for five straight weeks, when we get to the end of the summer and we get to July, now we can really hone in on the running game, and we still already have that passing game base knowledge on the offensive side of the ball. On the defensive side of the ball, we’re working on coverage every single week.  

“Defensively, it allows us to install more coverage when the season begins. If we’re really, really good at our base coverage, then when we come in during the season, we can install a switch up coverage rather than playing a junk coverage all 7 on 7, just to compete and then coming into the season and having to install our basic coverage.”

As for Wednesday’s mini-camp, Kraemer said much of the time was spent on going through the offensive and defensive fundamentals that the team will use during 7-on-7 and getting players their first appetizer for the game in the build up to the start of fall practice Aug. 5.

“It was just good to see everybody out there and start talking football again,” he said. “It’s hard when the season, you know the season’s so long apart. You get you start to long for it. I think the guys were excited just get going. We went through a lot of different things on the offensive side and defensive side of the ball just to prepare them for this summer.” 

Hodag football’s team camp will run July 21-24 and will cap off the summer schedule. Rhinelander will kick off the 2025 season at Ashland Friday, Aug. 23. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].