ABILENE, Texas — It's a big week for high school programs across the lone star state. The UIL allowed summer strength and conditioning workouts to begin on Monday.
Abilene High is spending the week in orientation before the team starts workouts on Monday.
"It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. We got a crack in the door to start strength and conditioning. You don't want to bust it open, you have to rattle the horse a bit to make sure you're safe because the bottom line is you want to get to fall," Abilene High's Mike Fullen said.
Programs across the state are following the same rules. Some of those include: staying six feet apart at all times, bringing your own water and receiving daily temperature tests.
"The big deal is water. They have to bring their own water, we can't give them water. A bottle isn't going to get you through it, if you run out of water you'll have to be sent home because we can't refill it."
Texas is opening much quicker than most states. For high school sports, the state is going to be looked at from all over the country to see how they handle coming back to campus.
"This is a curcial time for sports and programs across the state. Everyone is going to be looking at Texas and how they are doing it. If they are good then it will be good nationwide."
Although workouts aren't the same right now, this time will only help teams appreciate what they have even more in the future.
"We're going to be stronger for this, mentally tougher and we will have a bigger appreciation for things. We are progressing back in a good way, I'm looking forward to getting started," Fullen added.
Abilene High will officially start strength and conditioning workouts on June 15.