[RunItUpTheGut]

I thought they were not allowed to practice until mid July.

You cant practice during the dead period.
You can do weights and conditioning in June until the dead period.
Most teams do not, or make it voluntary at most, but some teams get conditioning in during this time.

I think you can look at it from two sides.
One, the kids come to practice in late july already in shape and and ready to go so you don't have to condition them to death and can actually work on things and get a jump, and that puts you way ahead for when you can go full contact in august.

On the flip side, I can see why some schools, especially smaller ones, do not. Give them there summer, let them work, have fun and enjoy vacation, but expect to start from scratch in july.

Its more of a pick your poison.