SAUGUS — It’s a new era for Saugus’ football program as the Sachems begin their first season under head coach Greg Bluestein, who is ready to make his mark after spending years as an assistant coach.

Although coaches have limited involvement during the summer, Bluestein likes what he has heard about the players’ commitment to offseason workouts, giving credit to athletic trainer Josh Isaac.

“The summer workouts have been going pretty well. We’ve had a solid core of players showing up to the weight room four days a week,” said Bluestein, who replaced coach Steve Cummings. “I think a lot of that is due to the work by our athletic trainer Josh Isaac. He’s put together a really comprehensive program where it’s not just our football team that’s in there lifting, but it’s all of our varsity sports. They’re all working together, trying to build a school-wide community out of it, which is really cool to see.”

Saugus will sport a handful of senior leaders this fall, but Bluestein is also encouraged by what he’s seen from the younger players.

“There have been some seniors stepping up into leadership roles that I’ve been very excited about. It’s exciting to see how they’re handling their teammates and holding them accountable,” Bluestein said. “On the flip side of that, I’m really excited for the future. We have a good core of eighth-grade athletes who have been showing up, putting in work, and are excited to be there. That extends all the way down to youth football, where our seventh- and eighth-grade football team has close to 30 kids on it this year, so that bodes well for years to come.”

With a new coaching staff comes new schemes, a new playbook, and different practice routines.

Along with getting stronger in the weight room, Bluestein hopes his players are ready to learn.

“Physically, we want to do the basic stuff and get stronger and faster. However, we want to make sure they’re comprehending that there will be a new system in place on both offense and defense,” he said. “We have a new defensive coordinator in Dennis Murphy this year. We’re trying to make sure they are prepared for the process of learning, as well as the physical demands that we have for them at practice.”

Installing a new playbook takes time, and Bluestein knows he and his staff can’t overwhelm players with too much information at once.

“We also have to understand that we can’t throw too much at them. It’s on us to make sure we are teaching things with the right pedagogy and making sure that they understand the fundamentals of our system before we try to get any more advanced,” Bluestein said. “We want to make sure that the kids feel confident going into Week 1 and aren’t questioning their responsibility, so they can play fast and play hard.”

While Bluestein wants Saugus to succeed on the field, he also wants his players to make an impact in the community.

“We have very high expectations and standards in terms of effort in practice, but we care about their behavior on the field, off the field, in the school building, and in the community,” Bluestein said. “We’re really pushing these kids to get involved in the community. We want them to go out and do community service. We’re working to make sure we’re building the whole athlete, so they have to understand if they’re involved with Saugus High School football, it’s not just about playing football games on Friday nights; it’s about who you are for the other 22 hours of the day that matters.”

Saugus will host Arlington Catholic, Lynn Tech, Medford, Salem, and Gloucester before closing the regular season with its annual Thanksgiving Day game against Peabody.

“I like that we got to keep our game against Lynn Tech. They’re a great team and Coach (James) Runner is a great coach. It’s always a fun game against them,” Bluestein said. “I’m excited to get back into the swing of things in the NEC (Northeastern Conference). Salem has a new coach, so I’m excited to play them and get to know him. The whole process is really exciting for me.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I’m ready to get going.”