(EAST LANSING) – Another step has been taken to have high school sports this fall.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association's Representative Council on Wednesday approved the next steps in returning sports for members schools by adopting a plan to phase in competition for the Fall season, in hopes of continuing to deter the spread of COVID-19.
The Council affirmed that lower risk sports, such as girls golf, girls swimming and diving and boys tennis and cross county, may begin practice on August 12, with competition starting August 19 and August 21.
Moderate to high risk sports, which include football, volleyball and boys soccer, may begin practicing, but not have competition. Decisions about competition timelines for these three sports will be made by August 20.
Practice for football will start the week of August 10, and will consist of conditioning, physical training and skill work with no other equipment except helmets. Football will delay the start of practice with full player pads and equipment until August 17.
Practice for volleyball and boys soccer may begin on August 12.
The Council also voted to cancel scrimmages in all Fall sports for this school year and approved limitations on numbers of teams that may compete together at regular-season tournaments, invitationals and other multi-team events. By eliminating scrimmages, the Council believes this emphasizes the importance of keeping teams from mixing before the first date of competition.