It is a different time for area high school football coaches as they take the initial steps in preparation for a 2020 football season.

“Football can be different from any other sport in terms of preparation,” said Northampton head skipper Kyle Haas in lieu of the coronavirus outbreak. “We have an amount of information that we plan to distribute to our offense and defense.

“We plan to implement what we want to do for the fall in a program.”

Haas and new Catasauqua head football coach Travis Brett have been in contact with their players through emails, HUDL, and likely Zoom as an alternative to their usual start of workouts and weightlifting.

The Konkrete Kids’ head coach plans to have his positional coaches meet with their players to keep to avoid a mass meeting of players on an outlet.

“We have 55 players and it would be difficult to do a Zoom meeting with all of them,” stated Haas. “Our coaches will meet with their players to have it be more effective.

“We have sent our kids the offense to look at through HUDL, and we plan to send our defense in installments. But it still can be a challenge because all kids have different types of outlets. Not all of our kids have weights at home, and our strength coach have put out videos (on HUDL) about exercises they can do with or without weights.”

Haas is optimistic that all of his players can be on the right page.

“We have been in contact with players since March 16,” he said. “We have had kids text us and some have sent videos about what they are doing. All of our kids are in good spirits, but we haven’t had a 100-percent return feedback from them.

“Zoom will allow us to see the kids and make a further connection. Our seniors have been outstanding. They understand that there are things that have to done at this time, and they have been resilient.”

Senior quarterback Joe Kerbacher has targeted on his tasks.

“With baseball being canceled, my focus has shifted to football really quickly because there is a lot to prep for it,” said Kerbacher. “We have a lot of younger kids coming in, so, hopefully, they are working on their game.

“As for me, I’ve been working out three or four times a week, been throwing almost every day to keep my arm in shape, and I’m making sure I know everything I can about the offense. When we start it’s going to be fast.”

Unfortunately, Brett was recently hired before spring sports were canceled and schools were closed.

He has begun to fill out his coaching staff with the recent hires of Tim Fisher, a longtime assistant under former Catty coaches Ed Csencsits and Bob Bydlon, who will serve as his defensive coordinator.

Scott Rothrock will coach the running backs and linebackers, Mike Gilmore will run the secondary. Don Panto will be a line coach.

Bart Bartholomew will be Brett’s utility coach, “assisting wherever it need be.”

Andrew Brett, his oldest son and 2017 graduate, will work with the quarterbacks. Brian Reilly will coach the middle school team.

Brett has begun his contact with the team through the school’s distance learning program.

“Being a new coach, it’s tough,” said Brett. “Don Panto has been helping me with it, and I wanted to do everything in the most professional manner.

“We will continue to work on ways to get in contact with the kids. I am happy with the coaches we have gotten on board. A guy like Tim Fisher is going to help with his more than 30 years experience. We have a lot of other Catty guys who I played with and know.

“We’re going to add a few more coaches. However, this is a situation that is certainly different and will be a challenge.”