Madison (OnFocus) – The National Federation of High Schools is tracking the status of high school sports as fall seasons approach. Because of the pandemic, several states have delayed the start of the fall sports season or altered the sports seasons.
As of September 17, the following state associations have delayed or altered the Fall season.
In addition to the map above, encompassing sports seasons modifications nationwide, the following sports-specific maps are available for download:
Alaska (First contests for fall sports moved from August 14 to August 20)
Arizona (Golf – August 17; Cross Country and Swimming and Diving – August 24; Badminton, Fall Soccer and Volleyball – August 31; and Football – September 7)
California (December 2020 or January 2021)
Colorado (Boys Golf – August 3; Boys Tennis – August 10; Cross Country – August 12; Field Hockey, Football and Sideline Spirit – September 24; Gymnastics, Boys Soccer, Unified Bowling and Girls Volleyball – March 1)
Connecticut (Cross Country, Field Hockey, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, and Volleyball – September 21)
Delaware (On September 10, the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) Board of Directors voted to resume Fall sports. However, the decision is subject to the Delaware Board of Education (BOE) at its next regularly scheduled meeting on September 17. Until the state BOE makes the final determination, the state will remain labeled on the map among those without Fall competition.)
District of Columbia (January 4)
Florida (August 24)
Illinois (Boys/Girls Golf, Girls Tennis, Boys/Girls Cross Country, and Girls Swimming and Diving – August 10; Boys Soccer, Football and Girls Volleyball – Spring 2021)
Iowa (The IHSAA announced a revised seven-week regular season football schedule running from August 28 through October 9.)
Hawaii (Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football and Girls Volleyball – January 2021)
Georgia (The Georgia High School Association postponed the start of football season until September 4; while permitted to continue practice, competitive cheerleading competitions are delayed until November 21.)
Kentucky (August 24; The golf season schedule is unchanged.)
Louisiana (Cross Country, Swimming and Diving, and Volleyball – August 31; Football – September 10)
Maine (September 14; Football and Volleyball – TBD for 2021)
Maryland (Winter Sports – February 1; Fall Sports – March 15; Spring Sports – April 26)
Massachusetts (Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Dance, Fall Gymnastics, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, and Volleyball – September 18; Football, Fall Cheer and Unified Basketball – February 22)
Michigan (Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Tennis and Volleyball – August 12; Football – September 8)
Minnesota (Cross Country, Tennis, Soccer, and Swimming and Diving – August 17; Football and Volleyball – Spring 2021)
Mississippi (August 10; Football starts August 17)
Nevada (Winter Sports – January 2; Fall Sports – February 20; Spring Sports – April 3)
New Hampshire (September 8)
New Jersey (September 14; the fall sports of Gymnastics and Volleyball move to Season 3 – February 16)
New Mexico (The NMAA, through Governor recommendations, canceled contact sports competition for the fall. As a result, the 2020 football and soccer seasons have been switched to the spring semester.)
New York (Cross Country, Field Hockey, Girls Swimming and Diving, Girls Tennis, Boys Soccer and Girls Soccer – September 21; Competitive Cheer, Football and Volleyball – March 1)
North Carolina (Cross Country and Volleyball – November 4; Swimming and Diving – November 23; Basketball – December 7; Boys Soccer and Lacrosse – January 11; Football – February 8; Boys Tennis, Girls Soccer and Softball – March 1; Baseball, Girls Tennis, Track and Field, and Wrestling – April 12; and Cheerleading – May 1)
Ohio (August 21)
Oregon (Basketball, Swimming and Diving, and Wrestling – December 28; Football, Soccer, Volleyball and Cross Country – February 22)
Pennsylvania (August 24)
Rhode Island (Cross Country, Girls Tennis, Field Hockey, Sideline Cheer and Soccer – September 21; Football and Volleyball – Spring 2021)
South Carolina (Girls Golf, Swimming and Diving, and Girls Tennis – August 17; Cross Country and Volleyball – August 24; Competitive Cheer and Football – September 8)
Texas (August 3 for conferences 1A-4A football and volleyball; conferences 5A-6A start September 7)
Vermont (Football programs are allowed to hold a 7-on-7 touch football season (not the NFHS-recognized 6-, 8-, 9- or 11-player contact football); Volleyball matches must be held outside – September 8)
Virginia (Basketball, Gymnastics, Indoor Track and Field, Swimming and Diving, and Wrestling – December 7; Competition Cheerleading, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf and Volleyball – February 4; Baseball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Track and Field – April 12)
Washington (Alternate seasons for Cross Country, Golf, Softball and Tennis – September 7; Football – February 17; Cheerleading, Cross Country, Girls Swimming and Diving, 1B/2B Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Softball and Volleyball – March 1; Other alternate seasons for Golf and Tennis – March 1)
West Virginia (August 17)
Wisconsin (Fall Sports – August 17; Winter Sports – November 23; Alternate Fall Sports – February/March, per WIAA Release; and Spring Sports – April 19)
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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]
