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# Start of practice different this year for Merrimack football
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/start-practice-different-year-merrimack-football/
- Published: 2017-08-09T17:57:13.000Z
- Updated: 2017-08-09T17:57:13.000Z
- Description: MERRIMACK - It's the first day of football practice and Kip Jackson can't get into the high school. In fact, no one from the football team - or any other team - is allowed into Merrimack High School on this Wednesday in early August. The loop in front of the high school is being repaved, and all the
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, football, Merrimack, NH High School Sports Insider, South Conference, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

> Kip Jackson: Today is a day to see "if the kids worked hard and were doing the right things." [pic.twitter.com/fvaPSXDZHd](https://t.co/fvaPSXDZHd?ref=nh-highschoolsports.com)
> 
> — NH HS Sports (@nhhssports) [August 9, 2017](https://twitter.com/nhhssports/status/895276790956077057?ref=nh-highschoolsports.com)

MERRIMACK - It's the first day of football practice and Kip Jackson can't get into the high school.

In fact, no one from the football team - or any other team - is allowed into Merrimack High School on this Wednesday in early August.

The loop in front of the high school is being repaved, and all the entrances have been blocked off to coaches, students and anyone else who might be in the area.

Instead, Jackson is holding the Tomahawks' first meeting of the season in the gym at Mastricola Elementary School, which is closer to the field Merrimack uses for practice, but not exactly ideal.

The gym floor has been covered wall to bleachers with blue tarp, and Jackson has been forced to take over a room off the gym to conduct business - business being kids looking for mouth guards, coaches in need of keys, and of course someone has forgotten to take the footballs out to the practice field.

Some things don't change year to year, but this season, there are plenty of other things that will be different for Merrimack.

"Every year you’re starting over," Jackson said. "Last year was an aberration for us, just having that many returning starters. The goal (of the first few days) was a little different. This year, it’s trying to figure out who is going to fit into what positions, and how the kids actually deal with adversity. We’ll try to put them into adverse situations from a conditioning standpoint and see how they handle it."

While the Tomahawks may be limited in what they're installing in terms of plays and formations the first couple of days, the coaching staff will still be evaluating, based on other factors.

"If we're doing conditioning drills, and a kid is getting ready to quit, one of his teammates comes up and lifts up him up instead of putting him down, that’s the type of behavior we want and want to reward," Jackson said. "Those are the things that will allow you to be successful."

Jackson estimates Merrimack has a little over 40 juniors and seniors returning for this season, many of whom will be taking over important roles that they haven't had to fill before.

"That will make up the bulk of the varsity," the coach said. "We have some sophomores who did a pretty good job in the offseason who might get some time Friday nights."