The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT August 7, 2010

That peace and quiet around local gyms and football fields will soon be replaced by cheers and the sounds of the fall sports season kicking off.

Within the coming days, area football teams will be hitting the field once again preparing for the upcoming season. Not too far behind, volleyball and cross country athletes will follow as summer vacation will end starting on Monday.

VARIOUS CAMPS and summer league events that schools hold prepare players for the upcoming season, but might make vacation not as long as most might like it.

When it comes to covering prep sports, there is always something different to me about Friday nights.

Whether it be fans packing the bleachers or the pep band blasting a school fight song, those nights are special.

Judging by some results last year, this year will be no different as teams begin a journey to the state playoffs and from there, who knows.

Local volleyball teams will wait until the latter part of next week to get going, but have had their season juggled a bit once they reach the state tournament.

MEMBERS OF the Idaho High School Activities Association Board of Directors passed a measure to limit the state tournament to single elimination in both volleyball and softball.

That change was made in an attempt to save schools and the association money.

Right now, I can see both sides of the argument.

Without the double-elimination setup, a very memorable 1994 state volleyball championship by the Wallace Miners at Booth Hall in Lewiston does not happen.

There are probably a few more teams that could say the same — but at some point, maybe it was time for a change.

The current setup is a two-year trial run and organizers will to see how things play out before committing to the change on a permanent basis.

It can only make those games in the tournament that much better, with teams just as competitive when it comes to the final moments of a match.

ANOTHER ITEM that came from the meeting is a possible switch in golf to move the big schools (5A-4A) to the fall from the spring season.

The small schools (3A-2A) will remain in the spring, but the move is designed to try to help those bigger schools get on the golf course. With the way the past golf season went, this could be a great idea.

Due to the spring weather being so unpredictable, golfers won’t have to worry as much about conditions hampering events such as the state tournament.

Most area golfers spend the summers playing golf, so the chances of more competitive scores could improve with the added practice each player gets in during the offseason.

A final decision on the move will come Sept. 28.

It appears that the fall sports season could be getting a lot more interesting in the coming years — giving fans plenty to do when the school bells ring again.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2020, or via e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.