It might be the middle of the summer, but the fall season for Mississippi high school athletes is fast approaching.
Mississippi High School Activities Association Football teams may begin practicing July 30. Players can don shoulder pads August 1 and full pads August 4.
Classic games may be played Aug. 10-11, with the first regular season game being set for Aug. 17.
The season will end for classes 2A, 3A, and 4A on Oct. 26, with round one of the playoffs Nov. 2.
Teams in 1A, 5A and 6A will be a week behind.
North State and South State championships for all classes are Nov. 23. For the first time, the University of Southern Mississippi's M.M. Roberts Stadium will host the championship games Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
The first date of practice for Slow-Pitch Softball is July 23. Classic games may be played August 6-8, with August 11 the first date for official games.
The regular season ends Oct. 2 and the first round of the playoffs are Oct. 6. North and South championships will be Oct. 16. The championships are scheduled for Oct. 30 at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland.
The first date for Volleyball practice is July 23. Classic games will August 3 and 4, the first game August 7 and the end of the season October 17. Playoffs begin October 19. Championships will be at the University of Mississippi October 25, 26 and 27.
Cross country runners may begin practice July 30. The first meet may be August 20. The state meet will be November 3 and 5 at Choctaw Trails in Jackson.
First date for swimming practice is July 30 and August 18 is the first meet. North and South meets will be October 20 and the state meet October 27 at the the Tupelo Aquatic Center.
In the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools football practice begins July 23. The first three days are without pads and there must be two additional days before players may wear helmets.
Jamboree dates are August 9, 10 and 11, with the first games August 17. Playoffs begin October 26 for AA and AAA teams and November 2 for A, AAAA and 8 Man football. Championship games at Jackson Academy will be Thursday November 15 for A and Division 2 of AAAA and Saturday November 17 for AA, AAA and 8 Man. The AAAA Division I championship game will be Friday November 16 at Mississippi College.
July 27 is the first possible playing date for fast-pitch softball, girls soccer and volleyball. There are no set dates for the first day of practice.
Regional tournaments for fast-pitch softball are September 22 and 24. Class championships will be September 29 and October 1 at the Magee Sports Complex. The top two teams in each class will then meet in a best-of-three home and home championship series. Dates for the games will be determined by the coaches.
Soccer class tournaments will be week of October 8, with all games played on the home field of one of the teams. Volleyball championships are tentatively scheduled for October 3 at Millsaps College.
The Cross Country class meets will be October 23 at Choctaw Trails in Jackson. The swim meet will be September 19 at The Courthouse Racquet & Fitness Club in Flowood.
