High School Sports In Alabama To Kick Off As Planned

MONTGOMERY, AL — The COVID-19 pandemic has caused uncertainty for schools throughout the country, and in Alabama — where COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all spiked in recent weeks — the virus has prompted many school systems to switch to an online learning platform to begin the school year. But school sports, according to the Alabama High School Athletic Association, will kick off as scheduled this fall.

Fall sports teams have the option to begin fall workouts July 27 with the first week used by football for acclimation purposes with helmets and shorts only. The other fall sports – volleyball, cross country and swimming and diving – can use the first week for acclimation and tryouts. Schools not choosing that option may start fall practice on August 3.The first contest can be August 20.

AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese said the AHSAA's Return to Play plan will provide member schools the tools to return to play as safely as possible. He said in a news conference Thursday that the decision to participate in sports is up to the individual schools, and ultimately up to the parents of the athletes.

"Sports could change almost immediately," Savarese said. "With new health information, things could change right away. If we can get in five games, eight games, we don't know what October holds, but hopefully we can get our games in, if not an entire season, but a portion season."

The document is not final and will be amended as needed, according to AHSAA Assistant Director Denise Ainsworth.

"We want to get our kids back to a normal life as safe as possible," Ainsworth said.

"We realize everyone will not feel comfortable going to a ball game. If you do not feel comfortable, we do provide the NFHS Network which many schools will provide a feed of the game," she added.

Ainsworth went over some of the highlights of the Return to Play plan, which include new rules for fall sports such as:

• Cross Country- Course will be widened to six feet
• Volleyball - suspend the protocol of changing benches; Move pre-match conference to center court
• No two-a-day practices the week of July 27
• Football - Extend players box from 10 yard line to 10 yard line, not extending coaches box
• Football - Charged timeout will be 2 minutes, to allow social distancing to occur
• Football - Only one captain allowed at coin toss
• Opposing teams on competition day will be notified of potential risk observed through screeningto determine team competition status.

"Fan requirements are left up to the local school," Ainsworth said. "We have had a lot of questions. We would encourage local school administration to prioritize band and cheer first before fans"

Savarese said any order by Gov. Kay Ivey or the Alabama Department of Public Health would end the sports season.