The start of official high school sports practices is Monday, Aug. 12.  Minnewaska Area High School student-athletes are reminded to take care of any preliminary tasks they need to take care of before the start of practices, including physicals for those who need them.

In addition, all 7th and 8th graders participating in a fall activity will meet with Activities Director Phil Johnsrud during lunch hour on the first day of school, Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Here is information about each of the fall sports at MAHS:

•  Football — grades 9-12 are set to practice from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the first week and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday of the first week . . . grades 7-8 are set to practice for the first time on the first day of school until 5:30 p.m.

•  Volleyball — grades 9-12 are set to meet from 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and again from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. the first day, Monday, Aug. 12 in the main and auxiliary gyms.  In addition, any 8th grade player who would like the opportunity to try out for the A-B-C squad is invited to attend the 9-12 practices.  This is not mandatory . . . grades 7-8 will meet for practice Tuesday, Sept. 3 for the first time.  7th grade practice is at MAES from 3:30-5:15 p.m.  You will take a bus from HS to MAES and will need to be picked up from MAES once practice is over (Bus #9, #12 and #16); 8th grade practice is set for WIN Academy (Starbuck) from 3:30-5:15 p.m.  You will take a bus from the HS to Starbuck and will need to be picked up in Starbuck once practice is over (Bus #4 and #6).

•  Boys and girls cross-country —  practice is set to begin at 7 a.m., Monday, Aug. 12 and any interested athletes in grades 7-12 are asked to meet at the MAHS track the first day.

•  Girls tennis — grades 9-12 are set to practice from 7:30-10:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 12; and from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13 through Friday, Aug. 16 at the high school tennis courts . . . grades 7-8 are set to meet from 7:30-9 a.m., Monday, Aug. 12 at the tennis courts and will meet again from 5-7 pm., Tuesday through Thursday evenings.

•  Girls swimming and diving — grades 9-12 are set to meet at 3 p.m., Monday, Aug. 12 and the first day will be dry land practice so bring your tennis shoes, a shirt and shorts.  On Tuesday, Aug. 13 and continuing on, practice for 9-12 grades will be from 8-11 a.m. at the MAHS pool . . . grades 7-8 will practice the first day Monday, Aug. 12 at 3 p.m. for dry land practice.

•  Boys soccer — grades 9-12 will meet from 7-8:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 12 at the MAHS Veterans Field.  There will also be evening practice the first week from 6-7:45 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday . . . grades 7-8 will also meet for the first time from 7-8:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 12 at Veterans Field.

You can call the MAHS Activities Department for more information