Richmond Senior High School has somewhat of a unique situation where its freshman athletes are concerned.

They are housed at a separate facility: The Richmond Ninth Grade Academy.

Every other school in the Southeastern Conference has its freshmen housed at its high school building.

For the past few years, Raider freshman football players have come to the high school to practice.

This year, that will go a step further: The Raider frosh will actually practice with the upperclassmen.

It’s a change Raider head coach Paul Hoggard has been thinking about for several years.

There are some logistics to work out, as the change will mean upward of 200 players competing for reps and practice time.

But Hoggard is hopeful the change will be a positive one, and a way to get the players integrated into the Raider program sooner.

“We’ve got a great staff, and they do a great job of keeping on top of their kids,” Hoggard said.

One member of that staff is Milton Swinney, who works at the Ninth Grade Academy and will serve as the Raiders’ freshman coordinator.

Swinney said it will be a big positive for the youngest Raiders to interact with their upperclass peers at practice.

And, Swinney added, it will create more continuity across the entire Raider program.

“The kids will learn the same way, from the same coaches, in the same practices,” Swinney said.

Freshmen will receive their equipment later this week, and will be hitting the practice fields with their upperclass teammates soon.

n Contact sports editor David Vantress at 997-3111, ext. 14 or via email at dvantress@yourdailyjournal.com.