FAYETTEVILLE – The kickoff of the 2012 high school football season is just a little more than a week away. In preparation for the new year, a few Sandhills teams got together Wednesday for the annual football jamboree.

This year, the tournament has a fresh look and a few changes.

"The big thing is both counties [Robeson and Cumberland] were having trouble getting teams, we even had some trouble this year. We actually had a team pull out last week and triton took their place," said Gray's Creek coach David Lovette.

Coach Ashley Ennis, in his first year at Triton High School, said it was a great opportunity. He says the preseason run-throughs aren't just important for the players, but for coaches too.

"It gives us as coaches a chance to get in rhythm of calling plays and defenses trying to move and score on you," he said.

The format for this year's jamboree is slightly different. Instead of the games being played over one day at Fayetteville State University, they're spread over two.

“Expanded scrimmage time means we get more time to work on things, get more kids in there,” Ennis aid.

For new coaches like Ennis, the jamboree is all about being ready to play on day one.

“You can't get in game speed until you get someone on other side who wants to hit you,” he said.

Teams in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association begin play Aug. 17.