With two-a-days looming members of the Albert Lea football team are getting an early jump on practice.

A group of around 25 have been working at Hammer Field for the past week and a half to get in better shape before the grueling practices begin.

Captains’ practices started last week on Tuesday nights and have gone on every night this week for two hours. The practices are mainly just a group of players playing games of two-hand touch, but it’s helping them get in shape and begin coming together as a team.

Some on the team said the number of players showing up for captains’ practice are higher than in the past.

“We’ve been trying to get kids out,” said senior Jordan Cooper. “It’s kind of hard to when you there’s nothing to look forward to if you don’t win.”

No doubt every win in the Big Nine is difficult to come by for Albert Lea, one of the smallest schools in the conference, but a dedicated group can certainly turn a program around in a hurry. Winona, which was 1-45 in six seasons before last season, put together an impressive season last year and captured the No. 1 seed in the Section 1AAAA playoffs with a 7-2 record. The Winhawks lost in the section championship 22-19 to Northfield, a team that advanced to the championship game.

The interest is there, as Cooper noted more younger players showed up for the practices than in the past.

“It’s kind of nice to see a lot more younger kids out,” said senior Jordan Cooper. “Back when I was a sophomore only a couple guys from my grade ever came out to these.”

Coming off a two-win season the practices are a step in the right direction for the team, but winning a few games this season would go even further.

“It would be big to start out with a win right away against Waseca,” Cooper said.

Albert Lea’s schedule is no picnic this season, either. After opening with Waseca in Waseca, the Tigers come home to face Winona. Week three has them traveling to Owatonna to face the Huskies before returning home for a game against Faribault Sept. 25 and Century Oct. 2. After the two-game homestand Albert Lea heads up to face the defending 4A champion Mankato West. The last home game for the Tigers will be against Mayo Oct. 15 and the regular season ends Oct. 21 in Austin.

The official start of practice is Monday and the first game is set for Sept. 3.