Fall begins Monday, Aug. 10, as far as the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) is concerned.

The first day of practice for MSHSAA fall sports teams around the state is Monday, Aug. 10, and the student-athletes and coaches from the St. James High School squads will be out and about that day getting the campaign underway.

The Tiger football, softball, volleyball, girls’ golf and boys’ and girls’ cross country teams will all begin practice sessions Aug. 10 in preparation of their respective season-openers.

Cross Country: Coach Bri Hodge will hold the team’s first practice from 6-7:30 a.m. Aug. 10 on the field house end of the track at Tiger Field.

The Tiger runners are scheduled to open the season at the 47th annual Linn Invitational Sept. 12.

Girls’ Golf: Lady Tiger coach Shannon Kleffner will welcome her players to their first meeting and practice at 8 a.m. Aug. 10 at the St. James Golf Course. The STJ golfers will practice from 8-10 a.m. Monday through Thursday starting Aug. 10, then from 4-5 p.m. Friday of that week.

The Lady Tigers are to open the season by hosting Steelville, Belle and Newburg Aug. 31 at the St. James Golf Course.

Football: Weather permitting, Tiger football head coach Dusty Craft will welcome his squad to practice from 3:30-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Aug. 10-14 at Tiger Field. And on Saturday, Aug. 15 the annual Tiger Red and White Scrimmage will be held, with practice to be from 9-10 a.m. followed by the scrimmage from 10-11 a.m. at Tiger Field.

St. James will compete in the Sullivan Jamboree at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21 at Sullivan High Field.

STJ then officially begins its 2026 season by hosting Salem Friday, Aug. 28 at Tiger Field.

Softball: Lady Tiger head coach Brad Purvis is scheduled to hold the team’s opening meeting and practice from 5:30-7:45 p.m. Aug. 10 on the game field at Nelson Hart Park. Weather permitting, the Lady Tigers will practice from 3:30-5:45 p.m. Aug. 11-14. If heat advisories are issued any of those days, practice will be rescheduled for 5:30-7:45 p.m. And on Saturday, Aug. 15 the Lady Tigers are slated to hold its Red and White Scrimmage from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Nelson Hart Park.

St. James softball is to officially open the campaign Aug. 27 at Vienna.

Volleyball: Head coach Andrea Otto is scheduled to hold her first practice from 8-11 a.m. Aug. 10 at the high school gym. That 8-11 a.m. practice time will be for the entire first week.

The Lady Tigers are to open their schedule at the Bourbon Round Robin Aug. 29.