ROSEBURG – It’s time to take the preseason preparations up a notch as high school football teams start donning full pads at practices on Thursday.

The Oregon School Activities Association requires players to go through three days of practices before they can wear full pads and begin full contact drills. Since most players started practices on Monday, they’ve met those requirements and will get the chance to start popping the pads as the season draws near.

For most varsity football teams, the season is almost two weeks away, so these opportunities to wear full pads and go live action on the practice field will be crucial. Players will focus on proper tackling technique and players will acclimate themselves to the rigors of actual game play.

Don’t forget that CBS Sports Radio 1490 The Score is doing previews of the local football teams throughout the month of August. Each Monday and Friday, a different head football coach will be a guest on Off The Wall from 12-1pm to talk about the upcoming season. Find the schedule of when coaches will be on and podcasts of coaches that have already been guests online at 541radio.com.

As for volleyball and soccer teams, the start of the regular season is just one week away from Thursday. Not every team will play on the first day of the season, but the Roseburg teams are on the schedule.

The RHS volleyball team begins the season in one week with a road game against the Thurston Colts in Springfield. The Roseburg boy’s soccer team will also hit the road for Thurston on August 24. The girls’ soccer team visits Sherwood for an afternoon contest.

Cross country also gets started in one week. The Roseburg boys and girls teams will begin the year in Cottage Grove for a 2-mile race.