OHSAA Official Announcement: OHSAA Fall Sports Practices Begin Saturday

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OHSAA Fall Sports Practices Begin Saturday
All fall sports can begin practice, while golf, tennis and volleyball have been approved by the Governor to have contests between schools

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s fall sports of girls tennis, girls and boys golf, field hockey, girls and boys soccer, girls and boys cross country, volleyball and football officially begin practice Saturday, August 1.

Earlier Friday, the OHSAA Board of Directors reaffirmed their position that the OHSAA fall sports seasons will go forward as planned. While all fall sports can practice, contests between schools in the sports of golf, tennis and volleyball have been approved by Governor Mike DeWine. The OHSAA continues to work with the Governor’s Office toward approval of contests in cross country, field hockey, soccer and football.

“It is important to keep athletic activity moving forward,” said Dan Leffingwell, president of the OHSAA Board of Directors and superintendent of the Noble Local Schools in Sarahsville. “And with that, we believe our member schools provide our student-athletes with the safest possible environment to return to play and that our school programs are the best avenue to help students learn lifelong lessons and provide social, emotional and physical benefits that other programs cannot. Moving forward allows those students to continue to be engaged with their school coaches and teammates. Membership data also supports this decision.”

Friday’s full memo sent to member schools at 2:00 PM is posted at: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/BulletinBoard/20200731AdministratorUpdate.pdf

Some schools across Ohio will not be able to begin practice Saturday. That situation and others are addressed in this OHSAA Question and Answer document: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/BulletinBoard/20200731QandA.pdf

Earlier this week, the OHSAA suspended scrimmages in the four fall contact sports that have not yet been approved by the Governor for school vs. school competition (field hockey, cross country, soccer and football). That memo is posted at: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/BulletinBoard/20200728Update.pdf

The OHSAA’s COVID-19 correspondence center is posted at: https://www.ohsaa.org/Home/OHSAA-COVID-19-Correspondence

“If we were to delay, our students will find opportunities to compete in sports through non-school programs that may not be focused on safety and are not education-based,” Leffingwell said. “Should data on COVID-19 change and/or the Governor’s Office makes changes to our plan, we have flexibility that would allow us to look at implementing other models for our seasons.”

Low/Non-Contact Sports (Golf, Girls Tennis, Volleyball)
• Official practices may begin on Saturday, Aug. 1.
• School vs. school scrimmages and/or contests will follow per their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations.
Golf – 1 scrimmage permitted any time during season; first contest Aug. 5.
Girls Tennis – 1 scrimmage permitted after practice begins and prior to first match; first contest Aug. 7.
Volleyball – 5 scrimmages and 1 preview permitted after practice begins; first contest Aug. 21.

Football
• Official practices will begin on Saturday, Aug. 1, with the normal acclimatization period in place.
• No school vs. school scrimmages are permitted.
• School vs. school contests will follow per their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations with a target date of the week of Monday, Aug. 24 (Note: This date is subject to change and subject to the approval from the Governor’s Office/Ohio Department of Health and with the stipulation that COVID-19 testing will not be required).

Other Contact Sports (Soccer, Field Hockey, Cross Country)
• Practices will begin on Saturday, Aug. 1, with the normal acclimatization period in place for cross country.
• No school vs. school scrimmages are permitted in soccer or field hockey.
• School vs. school contests will follow per their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations with a target date of Friday, Aug. 21, for soccer and field hockey and Monday, Aug. 24, for cross country (Note: These dates are subject to change and subject to the approval from the Governor’s Office/Ohio Department of Health and with the stipulation that COVID-19 testing will not be required).

Additional Notes
• If contact sports are not approved for school vs. school competition by Friday, September 4, fall contact sports and remaining winter and spring sports will move to a condensed schedule that will take place between mid-December and the end of June. Fall non-contact sports would move forward as scheduled.
• If the fall seasons begin and, for some reason, are stopped but then resume, the OHSAA has plans to move to a modified fall sports season.
• If contact sports are approved for school vs. school competition, the OHSAA is prepared to set COVID-19-related requirements for schools to follow for competitions as requested by the Governor’s Office. The OHSAA will govern and issue consequences for the violation of these requirements as prescribed in OHSAA Bylaw 11, Penalties.
• Conversations with the Governor’s Office/Ohio Department of Health continue regarding the status of field hockey and/or cross country being placed into the low/non-contact category. The membership will be updated if that changes for either or both sports.
• The OHSAA continues with conversations with the Governor’s Office on its plans to ensure we are in concert.
 
 
Very telling that this has no responses, but the August is officially canceled thread is approaching 500.
Too much pessimistic doom and gloom on these boards
 
Very telling that this has no responses, but the August is officially canceled thread is approaching 500.
Too much pessimistic doom and gloom on these boards

This is the most likely scenario as multiple counties are not allowing competition and sports until October 1. This is a holding pattern most likely until August 4th when they meet with Lt. Gov but I would say a condensed spring is looking likely.

See Illinois.. however, I really feel that we can get the most games in without interruption then, so I would support it.
Football
• Official practices will begin on Saturday, Aug. 1, with the normal acclimatization period in place.
• No school vs. school scrimmages are permitted.
• School vs. school contests will follow per their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations with a target date of the week of Monday, Aug. 24 (Note: This date is subject to change and subject to the approval from the Governor’s Office/Ohio Department of Health and with the stipulation that COVID-19 testing will not be required).
 
This is the most likely scenario as multiple counties are not allowing competition and sports until October 1. This is a holding pattern most likely until August 4th when they meet with Lt. Gov but I would say a condensed spring is looking likely.

See Illinois.. however, I really feel that we can get the most games in without interruption then, so I would support it.
Football
• Official practices will begin on Saturday, Aug. 1, with the normal acclimatization period in place.
• No school vs. school scrimmages are permitted.
• School vs. school contests will follow per their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations with a target date of the week of Monday, Aug. 24 (Note: This date is subject to change and subject to the approval from the Governor’s Office/Ohio Department of Health and with the stipulation that COVID-19 testing will not be required).

There may not be fall football this year, but no matter what, there will not be spring football. No fall football in 2020, means the earliest we will see high school football again in Ohio will be the fall of 2021.
 
I think we are finding out some schools will try to play and wait for DeWine to give the ok. But most aren't. Cancellations are mounting up quickly.
 
Very telling that this has no responses, but the August is officially canceled thread is approaching 500.
Too much pessimistic doom and gloom on these boards
Exactly. Like everytime there is a shutdown, certain posters cream their pants lol
 
Umm...with every "Big City" County recommending nothing until Oct 1 the OHSAA is going to have a tough time not following suit. Schools won't play if their local health board recommends they not. Easy lawsuit
 
Umm...with every "Big City" County recommending nothing until Oct 1 the OHSAA is going to have a tough time not following suit. Schools won't play if their local health board recommends they not. Easy lawsuit
Lawsuit against their own school or county? The rest of us are playing.
 
Umm...with every "Big City" County recommending nothing until Oct 1 the OHSAA is going to have a tough time not following suit. Schools won't play if their local health board recommends they not. Easy lawsuit
appears cuyahoga county schools are not starting tomorrow either. Saw tweets from Rocky River and Lakewood saying that
 
How stupid are people here?

This is just a move so OHSAA pushes:

1. School districts to try to push back sports because others are doing it (most unlikely scenario)

2. 20 more days for districts and conferences to call it quits, for now, and it’s not OHSAA or the governor forcing it to happen, it’s the districts doing so. (most likely scenario).

Let’s be real. If there is a 1/3 of the state not playing, it’s more likely an option where the whole state can play this Spring is most likely compared to the latter.
 
How stupid are people here?

This is just a move so OHSAA pushes:

1. School districts to try to push back sports because others are doing it (most unlikely scenario)

2. 20 more days for districts and conferences to call it quits, for now, and it’s not OHSAA or the governor forcing it to happen, it’s the districts doing so. (most likely scenario).

Let’s be real. If there is a 1/3 of the state not playing, it’s more likely an option where the whole state can play this Spring is most likely compared to the latter.
Apparently some people are exactly this stupid.
 
Lawsuit against their own school or county? The rest of us are playing.

Against who this August? 20 days it’s over. They want to let kids practice and get in exercise for now. DeWine said it himself on Tuesday. What a clown.
 
They announced today that if contact sports can’t play in the fall the backup plan will be to have a condensed season for all sports between mid December - June. Guessing most likely winter sports mid decmeber - February. Fall sports mid February - May. Springs sports mid April - June.
 
They announced today that if contact sports can’t play in the fall the backup plan will be to have a condensed season for all sports between mid December - June. Guessing most likely winter sports mid decmeber - February. Fall sports mid February - May. Springs sports mid April - June.

Is global warming going to really pick up this year so football can start during an Ohio February? We are also going to have football, track, lacrosse and baseball seasons runnings together for a month or so. Winter sports indoors in the middle of flu season in addition to a pandemic. This is laughable.
 
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Is global warming going to really pick up this year so football can start in an Ohio February? We are also going to have football, track, lacrosse and baseball seasons runnings together for a month or so. Winter sports indoors in the middle of flu season in addition to a pandemic. This is laughable.

Seasons will probably overlap for 2 weeks. Seasons already overlap for one week now. The seasons are going to be condensed if they move to that schedule.

Now to be honest if they can’t play in September I doubt things will be much better in December, but there is a plan in place to possibly play football in the spring.
 
Seasons will probably overlap for 2 weeks. Seasons already overlap for one week now. The seasons are going to be condensed if they move to that schedule.

Now to be honest if they can’t play in September I doubt things will be much better in December, but there is a plan in place to possibly play football in the spring.

What plan? I would be willing to bet a good amount that there will be no spring football in Ohio. It’s not happening.
 
Lawsuit against their own school or county? The rest of us are playing.

No when one of the schools that goes against the "Recommendation" and something happens. OHSAA's not going to let half the schools go ahead. You're crazy if you believe that.
 
They announced today that if contact sports can’t play in the fall the backup plan will be to have a condensed season for all sports between mid December - June. Guessing most likely winter sports mid decmeber - February. Fall sports mid February - May. Springs sports mid April - June.
Who is they? And where in the heck can you can confirm that? The OHSAA has not said they would do this and I know this for a fact..

Also, what precedent are you trying to set? I know of no spring sports pushing to have their season in the fall just so they can have a season. Its not right and will be VERY detrimental to the future of athletics as a whole. One sport is not more important than another. And please dont throw in stupid money comments. Even if football had a season the ticket revenue would be 1/2 to 2/3 of what they would get, even in the months you think would work for football.

This is really showing the "thinking about ones self and to hell with everyone else to get what I want".
 
Who is they? And where in the heck can you can confirm that? The OHSAA has not said they would do this and I know this for a fact..

Also, what precedent are you trying to set? I know of no spring sports pushing to have their season in the fall just so they can have a season. Its not right and will be VERY detrimental to the future of athletics as a whole. One sport is not more important than another. And please dont throw in stupid money comments. Even if football had a season the ticket revenue would be 1/2 to 2/3 of what they would get, even in the months you think would work for football.

This is really showing the "thinking about ones self and to hell with everyone else to get what I want".

The OHSAA announced a backup plan today if fall contact sports are not able to be played by Sept.

Low/Non-Contact Sports (Golf, Girls Tennis, Volleyball)
• Official practices may begin on Saturday, Aug. 1.
• School vs. school scrimmages and/or contests will follow per their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations.
Golf – 1 scrimmage permitted any time during season; first contest Aug. 5.
Girls Tennis – 1 scrimmage permitted after practice begins and prior to first match; first contest Aug. 7.
Volleyball – 5 scrimmages and 1 preview permitted after practice begins; first contest Aug. 21.

Football
• Official practices will begin on Saturday, Aug. 1, with the normal acclimatization period in place.
• No school vs. school scrimmages are permitted.
• School vs. school contests will follow per their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations with a target date of the week of Monday, Aug. 24 (Note: This date is subject to change and subject to the approval from the Governor’s Office/Ohio Department of Health and with the stipulation that COVID-19 testing will not be required).

Other Contact Sports (Soccer, Field Hockey, Cross Country)
• Practices will begin on Saturday, Aug. 1, with the normal acclimatization period in place for cross country.
• No school vs. school scrimmages are permitted in soccer or field hockey.
• School vs. school contests will follow per their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations with a target date of Friday, Aug. 21, for soccer and field hockey and Monday, Aug. 24, for cross country (Note: These dates are subject to change and subject to the approval from the Governor’s Office/Ohio Department of Health and with the stipulation that COVID-19 testing will not be required).

Additional Notes
If contact sports are not approved for school vs. school competition by Friday, September 4, fall contact sports and remaining winter and spring sports will move to a condensed schedule that will take place between mid-December and the end of June. Fall non-contact sports would move forward as scheduled.
• If the fall seasons begin and, for some reason, are stopped but then resume, the OHSAA has plans to move to a modified fall sports season.
• If contact sports are approved for school vs. school competition, the OHSAA is prepared to set COVID-19-related requirements for schools to follow for competitions as requested by the Governor’s Office. The OHSAA will govern and issue consequences for the violation of these requirements as prescribed in OHSAA Bylaw 11, Penalties.
• Conversations with the Governor’s Office/Ohio Department of Health continue regarding the status of field hockey and/or cross country being placed into the low/non-contact category. The membership will be updated if that changes for either or both sports.
• The OHSAA continues with conversations with the Governor’s Office on its plans to ensure we are in concert.
 
Who is they? And where in the heck can you can confirm that? The OHSAA has not said they would do this and I know this for a fact..

Also, what precedent are you trying to set? I know of no spring sports pushing to have their season in the fall just so they can have a season. Its not right and will be VERY detrimental to the future of athletics as a whole. One sport is not more important than another. And please dont throw in stupid money comments. Even if football had a season the ticket revenue would be 1/2 to 2/3 of what they would get, even in the months you think would work for football.

This is really showing the "thinking about ones self and to hell with everyone else to get what I want".

I mean the info is in the initial post in this thread. Did you not read it?
 
One thing that's also being overlooked by some is that it's possible for the state to authorize school vs. school competition for football yet impose requirements to be fulfilled that are so onerous that playing isn't feasible. Please note the OHSAA's saying -

• If contact sports are approved for school vs. school competition, the OHSAA is prepared to set COVID-19-related requirements for schools to follow for competitions as requested by the Governor’s Office. The OHSAA will govern and issue consequences for the violation of these requirements as prescribed in OHSAA Bylaw 11, Penalties.
 
If there is a go head to play on the 24th here are a few teams I fully expect to play that next week.
Massillon
Hoban
St Edward
St Ignatius
Mentor
Avon



HD can say whatever. Your elite programs will play. If there is 6-10 left, they will play each other

Benedictine and Walsh will play. Most all private schools and your top few diehard public schools. Some of these teams will continue to practice and will be ready if DeWine gives the go head.
 
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