POLAND – They lined up, two-by-two, and stayed in that formation for the whole walk to the practice field under a hot August sun.

The Poland Regional High School football program opened a new era Monday, and while the coaching staff’s mission early on was to keep things simple, even the smallest detail was going to be rehearsed.

“We’re changing the way we approach the field,” said Mark Soehren, who became the second coach in the program’s five-year history last winter. “Even walking out to the field will be different this year. There’s a line that they have to cross, and once they cross it, they’re on.”

The first day of fall practice represented a fresh start for athletes and coaches at high schools across the state Monday. But at Poland, it was a day to start from scratch, particularly for the football and field hockey programs, which combined for just one victory last season.

Two-a-days began bright and early Monday morning, with the athletes taking a break while mid-day temperatures climbed into the mid-80s, then returning to the field for the late-afternoon session.

About four dozen football players turned out for the morning session, which focused on strength and conditioning and, of course, filling out the requisite paper work.

In the afternoon, they marched out to the field for their first official on-field practice. Soehren and his staff spent the first half-hour assigning them to their spots for warm-ups then teaching them the drills that he expects to be routine within a week or two.

“If there’s a little bit more standing around than we’d like early on, that’s what two-a-days are for,” said Soehren, who was an assistant at Poland for five years when the coaching change was made following an 0-9 2007 season.

Once the players start to get the basics down it will be time to start focusing on the new triple-option offense Soehren is implementing. They got a taste of it during the Bates Shootout passing camp earlier in the summer, but it’s such a contrast to the spread offense the Knights have been running for years that it will take time to become second nature.

“I like the offense,” said senior QB/slotback Tyrus Steinman. “It’s tough to learn. There’s a lot to learn, but it’s a lot more fun. I think the team will respond to it more.”

“We just need to do what we’re supposed to do and not make things complicated like we did last year,” added senior lineman Edgar Satterfield.

A short distance away, field hockey players began trickling in for their afternoon practice. Only 18 girls turned out for the morning session, not quite as many as second-year coach Amy Hediger had hoped, about 18.

“That’s obviously low. We need 11 to play at any one time, so we have enough for a varsity team,” Hediger said. “We’re hoping to pull some more freshmen or find some other people eventually. We usually have two to three people that come after the school year starts.”

The Knights, who were 1-12-1 last season, do have a four-year starter in goal, Dezaray DeBurra and some experience on defense. But they will be relying on a number of first-time players, including sophomore Ashley Davis.

“It’s nerve-wracking,” said Davis. “I like it, though. It’s fun. It’s hard, but it’s fun.”

“I’ve never done a team sport, so I wanted to do one,” said senior Meghan Perkins, who had run track previously. “I don’t know all of the rules yet, but I came to the pick-up games (organized by Hediger) on Tuesdays and I got a lot out of that.”

Like Soehren, Hediger said her early practices are going to be focused on getting the players into a routine and making the most efficient use of the limited time they have once the season starts.

“Practice is 3:30 to 5, plus the season is so tight, it’s six weeks once we start the games, so we really have to make the beginning and end efficient, quick and consistent, and that way we can really go at it,” said Hediger, whose team opens the season Sep. 5 against North Yarmouth Academy.

The heat may not be such a factor once they get that routine down, but it is a major health consideration during the preseason. The Maine Principals’ Assocation requires that the first two days of football practice take place without pads and days three and four with only shoulder pads and no contact below the waist. The Knights had a garden hose hooked up on the practice field for a mandatory water break every half hour and additional breaks if needed.

“The sun definitely drains you,” said senior Matt Seger.

The Knights have three more weeks of hard work in the draining sun to prepare for their Sep. 6 season opener at home against Greely.

“Or the ‘Red Team,’ as coach likes to call them,” said Satterfield.

Their first dress rehearsal, though, is less than a week away.

“Leavitt,” Seger said with a smile. “The ‘Green Team.'”