While the Westwood Recreation Department's tennis programs were granted an extra two weeks of summer last week, athletes at neither Westwood High School nor Xaverian Brothers High School were afforded that same luxury as practices began this past Monday at both schools.

Most of the rest of the fall sports programs join the action tomorrow with tryouts and practices.

Thursday at Westwood, field hockey is first to hold its practice with the team taking Flahive Field at 7:45 a.m.

The boys' and girls' cross country teams, as well as the girls swim team and the boys' and girls' soccer teams, begin practice at 9 a.m. with the cross country teams at the high school track, the swim team in the high school pool, the boys' soccer team on Thurston Field and the girls' soccer team at Sheehan Field.

Girls volleyball holds its first practice at 3 p.m. in the gym.

Two teams start next Monday as the co-ed golf team tees off its first practice at 7:30 a.m. at Ponkapoag Golf Course followed by cheerleading at 11 a.m. at the high school track.

Xaverian Brothers boys' soccer also begins on Thursday with the team meeting at 10 a.m.

Golf will hold also hold a team meeting on Thursday at 10 a.m., then have three days - two rounds - of on-course tryouts beginning next Monday at Brookmeadow Country Club.

 Xaverian cross country begins at 5 p.m. Monday at the school.

Coaches of all Westwood sports including varsity, sub-varsity and all youth teams are encouraged to report their game results to Westwood Patch. You can call me, sports editor Kevin O'Malley, at 339-222-8534, or send an email to patchsports@gmail.com, which can be done from the "email the author" link at the top of this column.

Parents are also encouraged to show off their photography skills, and offspring, this season by contributing photos to any of our stories. It's as easy as sending me an email, or you can just click on the "add my photos" link that is present with every story and show us what you've got.

Information about upcoming events can also be submitted - or added to our calendar by anyone. So please, don't hesitate to use your voice and contribute your talents - after all, this is your hometown Patch.