"It was very exciting," said the first-year Warrenton head softball coach. "The girls were a little nervous obviously, but they came out and got settled down. First day of course I was. I was more anxious than anything." Ken Moore is another first-time head coach. After serving two years as an assistant football coach under predecessor Tracy Kemp, Moore was promoted last month when Kemp took an administrative position in the school district. On Monday, instead of dissecting the offensive unit, Moore was overseeing the entire squad. "It's pretty exciting to be out here that first day and getting your kids and getting them running out here," Moore said. "You have to get them in shape. It's a quick turnaround this year. It's real important to push as much as we can. The next thing you know is we're in our first game." Monday marked the first official day for fall sports teams in Missouri to begin practice. Area squads in action included softball, football, volleyball, cross country and boys soccer. "It's great to get going," said James Weir, Wright City football coach. "You're anxious and you're nervous. The kids are rolling in and ready to go." Fred Ross, Wright City softball coach, added: "I'm pumped, ready to go. I've been waiting for this all summer." Area coaches don't have much time to get their players in shape. Most squads will be practicing for five days this week - some will get an extra day on Saturday - but will settle into regular practice schedules once classes begin Monday, Aug. 18, for both school districts. Area softball teams will be the first to open the season, as both Warrenton and Wright City begin play the week of Aug. 25. Despite being a first-year head coach, Hawkins believes the transition to her new players will come rather quickly. "It's helpful that the girls played all summer," she said. "We really don't have to tune up that much. We are already in softball mode. We're just going over different things like fielding options so they know what is expected." Both area football coaches - Wright City's Weir and Warrenton's Moore - held camps at the end of July and used that time with their players to help prepare them for the upcoming two-a-day practices. Both coaches hope the players carry the momentum from summer workouts into this week. "We've tried to push them all summer long letting them know they won't have those two-a-days to get them in shape," Moore said. "They had to work on their own. We have to push them. We're kind of ahead, but we won't get the two-a-days with full pads." The football season openers are Friday, Aug. 29, leaving only 19 days for Moore and Weir to get their players game ready. Warrenton hosts Affton, while Wright City hits the road to Mexico, Mo. "We have to make sure we're going to the right place and being in the right spots," Weir said. Football teams aren't allowed to suit up in full pads and begin hitting until the fourth practice. To mark the event, Wright City will be holding a midnight madness event on Thursday morning, beginning at midnight and lasting until 1:30 a.m., so the players can be one of the first in the state to begin full contact drills. The head coaching staff at Wright City remains the same as last fall. Jennifer Hollaway begins her second year as head volleyball coach, while the cross country team will be led by veteran Sue Wright. Ross enters his fourth year as softball coach. This is Weir's fifth year at the school. At Warrenton, Mike Spoede (cross country), John Schulte (boys soccer) and David Evans (volleyball) remain in charge of their respective programs. Like every preseason, the coaches begin the year with a clean slate and high expectations. "It's nice to get back in the gym," Evans said. "We started off (Monday) morning a little slow, I know it's early, but they came in a little focused. They come in relaxed. Its nice to get back into the routine and what you love to do."