Sure. Most people here in North Carolina might think of the beginning of the school year as being closer to the end of August, but it actually begins much earlier.

Well before students will begin roaming the halls to re-acclimate themselves to a bell schedule, teachers will report to school for “pre-planning,” which is a series of days to get prepared for the new school year.

Academically that is.

If you are a coach of a fall sport, then your year officially starts much earlier – July 31st to be exact as that is the first day of practice allowed for fall sports in North Carolina.

To be exact, that means:

• Cheerleading
• Cross Country
• Dance Team
• Field Hockey
• Football
• Men’s Soccer
• Volleyball
• Women’s Golf
• Women’s Tennis
• and the activity that has the longest season – Band.

Many actual games will be played before the first day of school and while that may seem a little odd to some people, it is quite necessary because of the school calendar placed in motion by the state and the county system.

If you follow the banter that surrounds public schools, many believe that teachers have this extended summer “off” to do anything they may want. But get to know a coach for any high school sport who tries to help build exceptional teams and you will probably meet someone who spends quite a bit of time in summer getting teams prepared. That includes all of the camps, workouts, and fundraisers that almost all teams (fall, winter, and spring) and activities must do to have the necessary funds just to function.

Because the state sure isn’t helping with its emphasis on less spending. Just look at the “Pay to Play” systems being used in some school systems to help with costs (http://www.journalnow.com/sports/pay-to-play-system-not-being-considered-in-forsyth-davie/article_6671d31c-747c-54b1-b95f-5030f480c6f1.html).

Consider:

• Athletic fields don’t magically stayed manicured.
• Equipment doesn’t magically come ready to be used.
• Papers and eligibility forms don’t magically complete and file themselves.
• The weather doesn’t magically cooperate.

Yet there are a lot of good people who “work” in the summers who are ten-month employees on paper, but they will allow school to start in August with a sense of cohesiveness and purpose.

Why?

Because the stands will be filled before the classrooms will.

Drink plenty of water and go to the games. School starts in a week.