While most teams are installing offenses or trying to fill gaps in the depth chart, the St. Aloysius Flashes have been taking it relatively easy this spring.

They’ve been practicing for about two weeks, sure, but not on anything heavy. Most of their drills have reinforced the fundamentals. It’s an effort, St. Al coach Jim Taylor said, to get the Flashes to turn the page from spring sports to fall and just get them thinking about football again.

&#8220We never put on any gear. Truth is, with so many kids doing so many sports it’s hard to do a full-scale spring schedule,” said Taylor, who had about 30 players participating in baseball or track right up until the start of spring football practice. &#8220You still need to be in touch with the kids, and that’s what we do. This is just to get them back in the fold and focused on our summer workouts, even though some of them will be doing other things.”

St. Al concluded its spring drills today with physical testing and team meetings. Today’s workout gave the coaches a baseline reading to adjust their summer conditioning program, and also gave them an idea of who has progressed or regressed since last season.

It will also be the last time the Flashes have an organized practice until early August. Because so many of their players also play summer baseball, Taylor said the team will not attend any camps, clinics or passing leagues together.

&#8220That’s hard for us to do with so many kids doing other things,” Taylor said. &#8220Some of my kids go and participate as individuals. But we have a real conflict with summer baseball.”

When they return to school and the football field, the Flashes’ first order of business will be to find some linemen. Taylor characterized next year’s roster as having a lot of skill people – a euphemism for small.

There are only five seniors returning from last year’s playoff team, making experience and size up front hard to come by. It will be tough to find the experience, at least at first.

&#8220We’re going to have to figure out a way to use every athlete we have,” Taylor said. &#8220We expect to be able to compete, and that depends on having a good summer workout.”