Area prep teams get into their fall mode

Summer is officially over for area high school athletes and coaches.

After time spent over the summer at various camps and voluntary workouts, today marks the first day high schools can officially practice.

The first day of practice is typically a feeling out process for most coaches, with skills and conditioning drills the norm. But with open practices and summer camps so common these days, many players are already in shape.

"We've been playing a little bit this summer," Central soccer coach Tom Doyle said. "I've had about 25-30 every night. So some of them should be in pretty good shape going into Monday."

Forecasts for today have temperatures in the high 80s, not too hot for August in Southeast Missouri. Still, football practices will be regulated due to heat concerns.

The first three days of practice for football will be without full pads, under MSHSAA guidelines. There is also no body-to-body contact allowed during the first three days of practice.

While football may put athletes in the most gear and contain the most contact of the fall sports, it is certainly not the only one that has to deal with heat issues. Coaches in soccer, softball, cross country and tennis also have to keep in mind the heat when conducting their practices.

Scheduling practices early in the morning or early in the evening are often ways coaches get around the heat. Central's soccer team for instance, will start coming in around 6 a.m. and then come back for a 6 p.m. session.

"If it's too hot we'll take them inside," Central coach Tom Doyle said.

Softball and tennis will have the fewest days of practice under their belts before the season begins, with games in those sports starting Aug. 23.