The First Signs of Fall Sports

As some parents count down the days until the start of school, others have started up carpools and the struggle to get their vacationing teens out of bed before noon.

With water bottles filled, cleats reunited, and mouth-guards found, as many as 600 l athletes woke up early Monday morning for the first practice of the 2011 fall sports season.

Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) rules dictate that official practices may not start before August 15, and so another year of competition began for area public schools first thing Monday morning.

As coaches wrote down times and took notes on scrimmages during the first morning session, players felt a mix of anxiety and anticipation for the week ahead. Senior veterans, well-accustomed to years of running time trials and dodging drills, joked with friends.  Meanwhile freshmen, sometimes a foot or more shorter, looked at the fields nervously.

Underclassmen who do not make the varsity or junior varsity team have the opportunity, depending on the sport, to try out for a freshmen team or JV “B” team once school starts.

“This week is a bit of orientation for the teams, getting the teams ready and the players used to waking up early,” athletic director Pat Boyle said.

Many teams started the day with a run: the Conestoga boys’ soccer team completed a two-mile timed run at the beginning of practice.

“We run to answer the question: ‘are the athletes in shape?’ The answer this year was a resounding yes,” Pioneers Head Soccer Coach David Zimmerman said.

Girls field hockey also began practice Monday with a time trial, doing an infamous, hilly run called the “Cecily.” Before practice, the three senior co-captains, Yale-bound Britta Hjelm, Claire McDuggall, and Nicole Stevenson said that they were expecting a good start to the season this week.

“I’m looking forward to meeting all the new girls who come out to play,” Stevenson said.

Teams practice for the two weeks leading up to the first day of classes on August 31. Depending on the sport, they'll have one practice in the morning and another in the afternoon or early evening.

The first games of the season generally start next week, depending on the team. is the first to play  a scrimmage- against Unionville High School on Saturday at 5 p.m. The team is hoping to build on last year's 6-4 record.

“I think all of our teams will be competitive this year, because the coaches offer a great variety of sports opportunities,” Boyle said.

This fall's Conestoga athletes have some big cleats and running shoes to fill after great successes last year. Both Pioneer soccer teams performed exceptionally well. The girls lost in the state semifinals, and boys ended their run in the state quarterfinals.

Beyond soccer achievements, the 2010 cross country team sent three runners to states. The girls tennis team won a second consecutive Central League title, and the boys’ golf team won its third Central League championship in four years.

Let the games, or at least the practices, begin.