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Many student-athletes and families have been left wondering when their high school sports seasons will start. High School athletic associations, club sports programs and colleges around the country are postponing or canceling events and seasons in response to coronavirus. The NCAA initially suspended in-person recruiting until at least January 1, 2021 for D1 sports, though all division levels have since resumed in-person recruiting.
Additionally, school districts are taking precautionary measures both inside and outside the classroom to protect students and the community. As high school athletic associations continue to monitor the status of COVID-19 and take necessary actions, we will update this page with the latest information that is made available.
The majority of states experienced delays to the start of fall sports, with some states still tentative about actually scheduling games for winter. A minority of states, mostly in the South, went ahead with winter schedules that were more or less traditional. However, officials understand that playing indoors during the winter will pose additional risks, and states like Georgia have made an effort to implement additional distancing guidelines for winter sports. Others have pushed back the winter schedule significantly in hopes of playing during a time when the coronavirus is not spreading at such high rates. For example, the District of Columbia pushed its winter season back to February and hopes to complete its schedule in seven weeks.
Fall recap: Alabama more or less stuck to its traditional schedule for fall sports.
Fall recap: Alaska began fall sports with slight delays and then canceled state championships at the end of the season for multiple sports. Regional championships were still allowed.
Fall recap: After an initial delay to the start of the season, Arizona proceeded with fall sports.
Fall recap: Arkansas more or less stuck to its traditional schedule for fall sports.
Fall recap: California was one of a handful of states that did not have fall competition.
Fall recap: Colorado shuffled its sports schedule for safety reasons. Some sports, like football, were pushed back to spring while others, like softball and cross country, proceeded in the fall.
Fall recap: Most scheduled sports proceeded in the fall but tackle football was canceled in Connecticut.
Fall recap: After initially voting to push fall sports to spring in Delaware, the fall sports schedule resumed at a delayed date.
Fall recap: The District of Columbia did not have fall competition. Games are scheduled to resume on January 4th, 2021.
Fall recap: Florida proceeded with its fall sports schedule after a slight delay.
Fall recap: Georgia delayed the start of its football season by two weeks but started other fall sports on time.
Fall recap: The Hawaii High School Athletic Association postponed fall sports season to 2021.
Fall recap: After the IDHSAA released re-opening guidelines in late July, Idaho fall sports continued with the original playing schedule.
Fall recap: The IHSA announced boys and girls golf, girls tennis, cross country and girls swimming & diving will remain as fall sports with a condensed 2020-21 season schedule starting August 10 through October 24. Fall sports began with competition limited to conference opponents and other schools in the same general geographical area.
Fall recap: After the IHSAA released re-opening guidelines in August, Indiana fall sports continued with the original playing schedule.
Fall recap: After the IAHSAA released re-opening guidelines in August, Iowa fall sports continued with the original playing schedule
Fall recap: After the KSHSAA released re-opening guidelines in August, Kansas fall sports continued with the original playing schedule.
Fall recap: After considering two other motions that would have delayed the start of the fall seasons to varying degrees, the KHSAA Board of Control voted to proceed with fall sports starting August 24. The fall sports of Field Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country, and Football began official practice August 24, with a restriction of 7.5 hours of practice during the first week and full practice starting Monday, August 31.
Fall recap: In July, the LHSAA released guidelines, that aligned with the four phases of reopening set by the Louisiana Governor, that outline during what phases each fall sport could begin practicing, intersquad scrimmage, interschool scrimmage, and game play. Ultimately, fall sports were able to proceed with little delay.
Fall recap: In September, the Maine Principals’ Association announced that football and volleyball would be cancelled, but allowed all other fall high school sports to proceed, including golf, cross country, field hockey and soccer.
Fall recap: After season delays, the MPSSAA announced fall sports, including cross country, field hockey, football, golf, soccer, and volleyball, could begin practice on October 7 and proceed with seven weeks of competition.
Fall recap: Massachusetts launched a COVID-19 Task Force that advised continuing with low and moderate sports but delaying football to begin in February, 2021. Most fall sports ended up being slightly delayed, as well, starting practice in September instead of August. As of now, the winter season remains on schedule from November 30 – February 21) and the postponed football season will run from February 22 – April 25.
Fall recap: In Michigan, fall sports originally were planned to be delayed, but in response to an executive order from the governor, this decision was reversed and football moved back to the fall season instead of being delayed until the spring. Football and other fall sports resumed in September and finals will take place in December.
Fall recap: Like Michigan, Minnesota originally planned to delay fall sports to the spring but subsequently voted to move football and volleyball back to the fall season. The fall season ended up starting late, on September 28, so the season was cut short to only 6 regular-season games.
Fall recap: While the fall football season was delayed slightly (2 weeks), fall sports remained relatively normal in Mississippi with competition beginning as of September 4.
Fall recap: Missouri fall sports held their regular schedule of competition.
Fall recap: Montana fall sports held their regular schedule of competition.
Fall recap: Nebraska fall sports held their regular schedule of competition.
Fall recap: In Nevada, as early as July, the decision was made to delay fall sports entirely. Practices for most fall sports will begin on February 20 and football practice will begin on February 13. Winter sports have also been delayed to begin in January. Spring sports will begin in April.
Fall recap: New Hampshire fall sports held their regular schedule of competition.
Fall recap: New Jersey had a late start to fall sports but kicked off the seasons in October. As of October 12, all sports, both indoor and outdoor regardless of risk level, are permitted.
Fall recap: In New Mexico, non-contact sports like volleyball, golf and cross country were initially delayed and scheduled to resume later in the fall. However, New Mexico’s governor officially cancelled all fall high school sports in October.
Fall recap: In September, the NYSPHSAA announced that it would postpone high-risk sports including cheerleading, football and volleyball until March. Low and moderate risk sports, including cross country, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, soccer, girls swimming and diving, and girls tennis, were allowed to play a delayed, shorter fall season, with no regional or state championships.
Fall recap: The NCHSAA halted all high school sports back in March and has used a phased approach to resume high school athletics. NCHSAA color-coded sports as green, yellow, or red, to designate sports from the safest to most high-risk or most likely to spread the virus. Volleyball, swimming and cross country – designated as green and yellow sports – are set to begin competition in November, while football – are red sports – is scheduled to begin in February.
Fall recap: North Dakota was one of few states that chose to proceed with the fall sports season as planned. Cross country, golf, football, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball are all NDHSAA-sponsored fall sports. NDHSAA COVID-19 guidelines specify that sports limit extra physical contact and competitors should keep social distance when possible.
Fall recap: In Ohio, non-contact fall sports golf and tennis started as planned. However, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, cross country and football were slightly delayed until late August. OHSAA released recommendations and sport-specific guidelines for all fall sports.
Fall recap: The OSSAA approved fall regular seasons in football, cross country, fast pitch softball, volleyball and cheer to compete as scheduled.
Fall recap: In August, all fall high school sports in Oregon were delayed until March 2021.The OSAA left it up to the individual districts for how they want to handle workouts on campuses throughout the fall. The decision to delay fall sports still allows for three sports seasons, with the winter season scheduled for January and February, followed by the fall season in March and April, then the spring season in May and June. Each will have a seven-week regular season.
Fall recap: Despite the Pennsylvania Governor’s urging to delay fall sports until January 2021, the PIAA voted to allow the fall season to proceed despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Practices for all fall sports began in August. Golf, girls tennis, cross country, girls volleyball, field hockey, water polo, soccer, and football began competition between August and September.
Fall recap: The Rhode Island Interscholastic League approved cross country, soccer, girls tennis, sideline cheer, and field hockey to compete in the fall, starting in late September, with some safety modifications. Football and volleyball were not approved for competition in the fall. As a result, the RIIL will be adopting a four-season model and those sports not approved to start in September will be moved to Season 3, which will be held between the winter and spring seasons at a start date to be determined.
Fall recap: The SCHSL pushed back the start of its fall sports season. Girls golf, girls tennis and swimming were allowed to start their regular seasons in late August, while cross country, volleyball and football held their first games in September. The 2020 football season was adjusted tobe only seven games with region games first and the playoffs will be only four rounds instead of five.
Competitive cheer was allowed to hold its first competitions in October.
Fall recap: South Dakota high school sports are playing an altered or delayed schedule this fall.
Fall recap: Tennessee fall sports held their regular schedule of competition
Fall recap: Texas high school sports are playing an altered or delayed schedule this fall.
Fall recap: Utah fall sports held their regular schedule of competition.
Fall recap: Vermont high school football seasons were delayed as other sports played their original schedules up until mid-September. They are now playing altered or delayed schedules.
Fall recap: Virginia high school sport seasons were altered then ultimately cancelled in mid-October.
Fall recap: Washington high school sports were delayed at the start of the school year. Washington cancelled fall competition from mid-September to mid-October. They are now playing altered or delayed schedules.
Fall recap: West Virginia high school sports started off on schedule then moved to playing altered or delayed schedules in September.
Fall recap: Wisconsin high school sports are playing an altered or delayed schedule this fall. There will be no winter competition.
Fall recap: Wyoming fall sports played their original schedules up until mid-September. They are now playing an altered or delayed schedule.
Read more: College coaches on COVID-19 impact to recruiting and scholarships
Read more: What the NCAA Extra Year of Eligibility Means for Recruiting
About NCSA
The impacts of COVID-19 are being felt throughout the sports community. As we head into the spring and summer season, there is a lot of uncertainty into how the youth sports community will be impacted. At NCSA we are believers on the importance of sports first and recruiting experts second. We are making all of our research into the impacts of COVID-19 public to help in any way we can. We will continue to update these materials as updates are necessary. Please send any questions or requests to [email protected].
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