Michigan Fall Sports Return Monday, Football Playoffs In January

MICHIGAN — Three Michigan high school fall sports seasons halted by the coronavirus pandemic will be able to start back up Monday beginning with practice, the Michigan High School Athletic Association announced Friday.

Football, volleyball and girls swimming and diving will be able to continue their respective state tournaments as part of an MDHHS pilot rapid testing program designed to collect data on the spread of COVID-19, according to the MDHHS.

The MDHHS will provide expanded rapid testing availability to schools in January.

Here is what Friday's announcement means:

High school football playoffs will begin on Jan. 2, with Regional Finals for 11-player teams and Semifinals for 8-player teams, the state said. The 8-player championship games in both divisions and all 11-player Semifinals will be played on Jan. 9. The football season will conclude with the 11-Player Finals in all divisions the weekend of Jan. 15-16. All Semifinals in both 11 and 8-player will be played at home sites.

The Girls Volleyball Tournament will begin again with Quarterfinals on Jan. 5. Semifinals and Finals will be played from Jan. 7-9 at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.

The Girls Swimming & Diving Finals with return with its three Lower Peninsula Finals competed during the weekend of Jan. 15-16 with one division at each of three locations. Diving would be completed on Jan. 15, with swimming the following day.

No spectators will be allowed to attend games, the MHSSA said.

The agency said all indoor Winter sports — which are not part of the pilot rapid testing program — remain on pause from the MDHHS until Jan. 16, although girls and boys alpine skiing season.

All Spring 2021 sports are expected to begin on time and play complete seasons concluding with their traditional MHSAA Tournament dates in May and June.