In less than one week, the sounds of quarterbacks barking out signals and whistles blowing will echo off bleachers across the state of Alabama as high school football practice officially opens on Aug. 5.

While all five high schools in the Troy area will get underway with fall camp on Monday, each one has been hard at work throughout the summer preparing for the upcoming season.

Charles Henderson head coach Mike Dean said that the Trojans started preparing for the 2013 season just moments after a loss to Dora in the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs in November.

“We met with out upcoming juniors and seniors and set goals for this season just a couple of days after we lost,” Dean said. “That next season began that night after we lost to Dora.”

Throughout the summer, Dean and the Trojans have taken part in numerous camps and 7-on-7 competitions, as well as their usual daily workouts and practices.

“We have worked hard over the summer, and are ready to get the season going,” Dean said. “It is here, and it is exciting because you have worked so hard to get to this point.”

Out at Goshen, Bart Snyder enters his fifth year as Eagles head coach. In each of his seasons at the helm, Goshen has advanced to the AHSAA playoffs.

Snyder said that this summer has been a productive one for his players.

“We always do some weights and 7-on-7 stuff,” Snyder said. “In July, we got heavy in our football conditioning to make sure we are ready to go next week. They have put in a lot of effort, and hard work.”

Zion Chapel head coach Bradley Bowers is preparing for his first campaign as a head coach, and said one of the biggest hurdles he has faced has been one of logistics.

“I spoke with some coaches at the All-Star Sports Week, and we discussed how to get kids to practices,” Bowers said. “Being such a rural school, it is sometimes hard to get them there when they can’t ride the bus. We have put some things together and will be ready to go.”

Teams can officially begin fall practice on Aug. 5, and the season gets underway on Aug. 30.