The first day of fall sports practice for Kansas high schools under KSHSAA guidelines is Monday, Aug. 17.
Fall sports including football, volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys soccer, girls tennis and girls golf.
Several area schools are participating in football jamborees on Aug. 21, Aug. 26 and Aug. 28.
The first Kansas high school football games are slated for Thursday, Sept. 3, and Friday, Sept. 4.
All student-athletes must have a valid physical form dated after April 1, 2026, on file before stepping onto the field or court.
An important reminder from the KSHSAA for coaches, parents and athletes: Only voluntary weight training and non-sport-specific conditioning are permitted from Aug. 2-16.
Not permitted: Team practices or team gatherings (no team gatherings where the sport is being played); sport-specific instruction or drills (no coaching or instruction specific to the sport); sport-specific conditioning (no conditioning designed for the specific sport); balls or school sport-specific equipment (no balls or school sport-specific equipment may be used).
These are KSHSAA rules and apply to all athletic activities sponsored by the KSHSAA.
For Kansas community colleges in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC), the first day of fall sports practice for the 2026 season generally aligns with individual college academic calendars and NJCAA guidelines.
Most official team practices and scrimmages getting underway in mid-August 2026 (around Aug. 10-17), matching when early fall classes and intersessions start.
The exact first official day of fall sports practice for Hutchinson Community College is not explicitly specified on the school’s public athletic calendar.
The HutchCC volleyball team will participate in the KJCCC Preseason Scrimmages Aug. 15 at the Power Plant in El Dorado, hosted by Butler CC.
The Blue Dragons open the season Aug. 21-22 at the Iowa Western CC Reiver Classic at Reiver Arena in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The HutchCC women’s soccer team opens the season against Pittsburg State University on Aug. 10. The match begins at 6 p.m. at the Salthawk Soccer Complex. The Blue Dragons play at Allen County Aug. 12 in Iola and host Bethel College at 2 p.m. Aug. 16.
The HutchCC football team opens the season Aug. 20 at home against Cisco College. Kickoff at Gowans Stadium is 7 p.m.
The HutchCC mens’s and women’s cross country teams open the season Aug. 27 with the annual Terry Masterson Twilight Classic. The meet starts at 9:15 p.m. and will take place at Fun Valley Sports Complex.
