With first games just a couple weeks away, area high school girls soccer teams hit the fields this week for their first official practices of the preseason. At Alton High, the Redbirds are going through their paces under the eye of a familiar coach – in a new role.

Jeff Hayes, who’s replacing Laura Ridolfi as the AHS head coach, said with about 60 girls competing for spots on one of three roasters, practice is off to a good start.

“I’m satisfied with the first couple days of training,” Hayes said. “The girls are eager to get the season going and are committed to working hard

Hayes took over the head coaching position after Ridolfi stepped down after two seasons to pursue a position with the Scott Gallagher St. Louis Soccer Club. He had served as an assistant coach under Ridolfi.

“My role as head coach is much different than my role has been as assistant,” Hayes said. “I’ve tried explaining that to the girls. They are beginning to understand that I’ll be more demanding as a varsity coach.”

The Redbirds will play their home games on the new soccer field completed last fall behind the school on Humbert Road. The facility has its own bleachers and scoreboard as well as a track surrounding it.

And while Hayes is no doubt happy with the thought of not having to play home games elsewhere, he’s more concerned with the team that will be playing on that new field.

“We have our hands full, really,” Hayes said. “The reality of the situation is that we were the only team to go winless in the (Southwestern) conference last year and we were the only team to have an overall losing record.

“We’re going to be very young,” Hayes said, ” but we do have a core group of returning players to lead our team.”

The Redbirds open the season with a solid test in the Nike Division of the Metro Cup Tournament.

“We’ll play four games in six days,” Hayes said. “That will test our depth early on.”

Hayes, who played high school soccer at Granite City under legendary coach Gene Baker, has been coaching high school soccer since 2007. He was the head coach of the Granite City High boys team from 2010 through 2013. Last fall, he was the coach of the Collinsville High boys freshman team.

“I believe the (Alton) girls have always felt comfortable with me and feel at ease to say what is on their mind,” Hayes said. “So the transition has been easy. But the real test will come when we face adversity throughout the season. They need to know that I have confidence in them; maybe more confidence that they have in themselves.”