Madison (OnFocus) – Wisconsin’s fall sports seasons are underway, and when it comes to the nation, fall sports schedules and plans are wide and varied.
As detailed by MaxPreps.com, each state’s plans include start dates and adjustments to the length of the fall sports season, start date, postseason plans, and additional information.
Sampling of area states’ plans(Courtesy Maxpreps.com)
Minnesota — The Minnesota State High School League will hold a special meeting Sept. 21 to, among other things, “reconsider placement of fall activities seasons.” On Aug. 4 the MSHSL approved a plan that will move football and girls volleyball to the spring but leave all other fall sports — tennis, cross country and swimming/diving — on as scheduled. The special meeting announcement comes on the same day the Big Ten Conference flipped its football season back to the fall. “The (MSHSL) continues its work of providing the safest possible way for students to participate in all league activities and athletics for the 2020-21 school year,” MSHSL executive director Erich Martens said in a release. “This special meeting call by Board President Blaine Novak will be a continuation of those very important discussions and decisions.”
Illinois — The Illinois High School Association announced July 29 that all of its sports will be altered to four shortened seasons (fall, winter, spring and summer) with football beginning in the spring. The IHSA’s announcement came virtually at the same time that Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that there will be new restrictions to all youth and adult sports in the state, beginning Aug. 15. Sports will be categorized under three risk levels — high, medium and low. Low risk sports such as golf, girls tennis, cross country and girls swimming and diving shall remain in the fall under the IHSA plan. Football will join boys soccer and girls volleyball from the fall to join a busy spring season in Illinois.
Iowa — The Iowa High School Athletic Association baseball tournament ended Aug. 1 with 29,904 fans in attendance over four title games at Principal Park in Des Moines – home of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs — the highest turnout since 2014. … On July 24, the IHSAA announced a flexible regular season schedule for football only. The start dates (practice Aug. 10, first game as early as Aug. 27) remain the same, but the association is allowing teams to play between five and seven regular-season contests during a seven-week season. Also, all teams in all classes will qualify for the postseason. Brackets will consist of six rounds for each classification.
For a complete summary of each state’s plans, CLICK HERE
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
