The RSU5 Athletics Department, headed by Craig Sickels, has released its early scheduling for the preseason, which starts on Monday, Aug. 15.

High school boys soccer will kick off with tryouts at the field behind the school from 7:30-11 a.m. on Monday. Tryouts continue on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8-11 a.m. Regular practices begin on Thursday, with varsity meeting from 8-11 a.m., first team from 8:30-1 a.m. and JV from 5-7:30 p.m.

Girls soccer will meet at the field behind the school from 8-11:30 a.m. on Monday the 15th and from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Friday.

Field hockey will meet at the field from 7:30-10:30 a.m., Monday-Friday.

Cross country will meet on the front lawn at the high school from 5–6:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Golf will meet at Freeport Country Club, the team’s home course, at 3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Golfers should make arrangements for their own transportation to and from the club, and appropriate golf attire is required – i.e., no jeans or t-shirts.

Cheering will meet in the café from 4–6 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Football will meet at the Pownal Road Recreational Field from 8-11:30 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The team travels to an away scrimmage vs. Boothbay on Monday the 22nd, then returns to meeting at the above place and times from Tuesday the 23rd through Thursday the 25th. Players should make their own arrangements for transportation to and from practice. Equipment and pads will be issued at 6 p.m. on Sunday evening, the 14th, location TBA. Players must have completed their online forms and present a signed “Emergency Info and Physician’s Statement Form” to receive equipment and pads.

Also, a number of athletics stipends are available for qualified individuals looking to coach: girls first team soccer (FHS), girls first team basketball (FHS), boys eighth grade soccer (Freeport Middle School), girls eighth grade soccer (FMS), football (FMS), girls seventh grade basketball (FMS), boys soccer (Durham Community School), boys basketball (DCS), girls basketball (DCS) and/or coed indoor track (DCS).

Freeport High School has a new athletics website, http://www.freeportathletics.com/, where email alerts, schedules, directions, news and the athletics handbook are all available. Fans can also shop for Falcon wear. Likewise, the school has a new sports Twitter feed, @FreeportFalcons, where updates and scores are posted as they roll in.

The High School athletics hotline remains 207-865-4706 ext. 320. A recording at that number each day provides schedules, postponements and cancellations. Finally, the department’s forms are now online. Parents should contact pietkiewiczl@rsu5.org (FHS), lees@rsu5.org (FMS) or williamss@rsu5.org (district) for access information.