Hundreds of athletes in Lawrence and surrounding towns will begin fall sports practices for the 2004 season today.

Seven sports — football, volleyball, cross country, gymnastics, boys soccer, girls tennis and girls golf — will start workouts after school today, with competition just around the corner. The Free State High girls tennis team, in fact, starts play Saturday with a doubles tournament at Shawnee Heights.

Most competition starts around the first of September, including football on Sept. 2-3.