The sounds of helmets, whistles, and quarterback cadences are easy on the ears this time of year.

Those sounds will be heard in every corner of Michigan on Monday morning as thousands of high school football players take to the field for the first day of practice.

No matter what happened last season or the season before that, Monday offers every team in the state — from defending state champions down to the smallest of schools — a chance to wipe the slate clean, start anew, and begin a new year with a renewed sense of optimism.

I’ve never strapped on a helmet, but I’ve always looked forward to the start of practice.

It means we’re one step closer to the start of football season.

It also means we’re one step closer to the return of all fall sports, because practice also begins Monday for boys tennis, cross country, boys soccer, volleyball, and girls golf.

The practices, whether on outdoor fields or in school gyms, can be tough for players, especially during stiflingly hot days in August. But I’ve seen it time and again: Practices are a chance for players to bond, pick each other up, and support one another as they all get ready for the coming season.

Monday may signify the first day of fall practices, but, for me, the fall sports slate truly feels like it arrives when the Rogers City football program holds its annual media day at the end of the first week of practice. I’ve done it every year for the last 13 seasons, and it’s always exciting to talk with area coaches, as we will over the next few weeks, about their rosters and their plans for the seasons.

The first week of football games is still a few weeks away, but I can still remember clearly the earliest games I covered as a rookie sports reporter.

I watched Austin Leeck tear through Cheboygan’s defense during an Alpena win. I watched a battle between new coaches at Atlanta and Alcona and watched Atlanta pull off the upset in its first game. I even got a look at eight-player football, watching Posen in its season opener.

It’s interesting that, more than a dozen years after that first game I covered, nearly every football team in Northeast Michigan plays eight-player football, and most of them are grouped together in the same league.

The return of fall sports is exciting for those who coach, participate in, and love to watch sports.

But it’s also exciting for those of us who cover sports.

The fall means the return of covering football games on Friday nights, packed bleachers, and renewing rivalries.

It means keeping track of stats and standings, the return of another season of predictions from the Swami and getting to highlight exceptional teams and players.

It means watching Northeast Michigan’s very best athletes in action as they give it their all to help their team win in front of cheering fans.

It means getting to cover games outside in relative warmth — though the end of football season can get a little brisk.

I can only imagine how excited coaches and players must be, and I’m excited, too.

The full slate of fall sports contests will be here soon enough.

James Andersen can be reached at 989-358-5686 or jandersen@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ja_alpenanews.