Yuma Catholic hosts offseason 7-on-7 event as teams prepare for football season

The Imperial Valley and Yuma County came together for offseason work

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - As the countdown to the high school football season continues, teams from across Yuma County and the Imperial Valley are taking advantage of offseason competition to prepare for the fall.

Yuma Catholic hosted a 7-on-7 passing event, bringing together programs from both sides of the Arizona-California border for a series of round-robin matchups.

The offseason format gives coaches and players an opportunity to evaluate progress, gain valuable repetitions and compete against unfamiliar opponents before the start of the regular season.

For Yuma Catholic coach Marty Schaetzle, facing teams outside the Shamrocks' normal schedule provides an added challenge.

"Whenever you go against somebody else, it adds another dimension," Schaetzle said. "Now you're competing at a different level. You get challenged and make sure you're doing the right things. It's another step in the progression to get ready for the season when you go against another team."

The event featured schools from Yuma County and the Imperial Valley, allowing players to test themselves against a variety of offensive and defensive schemes while continuing to build chemistry with teammates.

The competition marked the first day of a two-day session at Yuma Catholic High School, with participating teams returning for additional action and practice opportunities.