The first day of practice is almost here. And in Virginia, that means 3 days with just helmets. 2 days in helments and shoulder pads.

How can we get the most out of the opening of camp? I used to think those first 3 days were a waste. They're not.

Football practice without pads can be a huge benefit for your team. You can get your playbook installed, but there's even more.

Focus on footwork. Teach attack angles. Learn how to practice fast, without contact.

But safety is still your number one concern. I'll give you some pointers on staying safe during your pads-free practice, too.

In 2004, I was captivated by the idea of throwing on every down. Chris Hatcher had me hooked.

The Air Raid is absolutely brilliant. With just a handful of passing concepts, a simplistic running game, and a few screens and draws, you can make sure the defense is never right.

Like every other scheme in football, it doesn't always turn out that way on the field. But it sure is a cool idea.

While the offense is still being used, it's not as revered as it once was.

You can look back to the '90s, when Kentucky's passing offense took the SEC by storm. Hatcher's teams that dominated Division II Football. And of course, Mike Leach throwing the ball all over the lot at Texas Tech.

Not to mention, Tony Franklin System teams were dominating High School Football.

When we look at the landscape today, it doesn't look quite as bright for the Air Raid. Leach and Kliff Klingsbury have struggled recently, as has Hatcher. 

(for what it's worth, I'm not a TFS member so I can't say for sure - but Tony seems to have evolved...)

That doesn't mean it's not fun to talk about! So sit back and listen to Episode 131 of The Football Coaching Podcast. We're talking Mesh, Y-Shallow, Y-Stick, and just generally chucking the football all over the field!

You need to be prepared for anything, and that goes far beyond X's and O's. These are 8 important parts of your program that need to be addressed before practice starts.