Okay, I realize that we are in the middle of June, and while the BCAA sports calendar says baseball, softball, girls' flag football, track and tennis, the economy dictates otherwise.

Welcome to the football season, where, if your are really serious and plan to make this a priority for at least the next four years, things never stop.

From conditioning to actually getting out there with football in hand and compete in a 7-on-7 setting, where players turn it up with the idea of getting better in a sport that is so scholarship competitive, losing out on just a few weeks of actually getting to compete could end up putting an athlete behind.

The "off season" is now filled with nightly workouts, keeping the body healthy. It is also a time when weekends will signal a competitive 7-on-7 event or a combine - somewhere - someplace.

As the BCAA continues to find out each year when it hosts the recruiting fair, the scholarships are getting more elusive for so many athletes who want to play the sport at the next level.

Last weekend was the first of so many 7-on-7 tournaments that will take place during mostly in June and July. The Badger Tournament brought some of the elite players from around Florida, but also featured some of the top players who will continue to showcase their skills in the BCAA.

Among the players from Broward schools who made a lasting impression included Avery Johnson (Ely), Malcolm Lewis (Miramar), Devonte Mathis (Miramar), Sojourn Shelton (Plantation), Willie Bailey (Hallandale), Joseph McClary (St. Thomas), Tracy Howard (Miramar), Deshad Tucker (Hallandale), Hugs Etienne (South Plantation) and Dinero Moss (Piper), who all played for the runner up South Florida Express.

Among those who competed for the champion South Florida Football Fire included Dillard’s Zachary Daise and Ely defensive back Adrian Burton.

Boyd Anderson defensive back Daniel Gray played for the South Florida Ice.

You can reach Larry Blustein via e-mail at Floridakids1@hotmail.com. Blustein is the co-host of the High School Gridiron Show each Wednesday night from 9-10 on WQAM (560 AM) or www.wqam.com.

You can also follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/larryblustein