High School Swimming Status Could Hinge on How Fall Sports Unfold

High School Swimming Status Could Hinge on How Fall Sports Unfold

As August approaches, fall camps for high school sports should have already started or should be starting soon. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many states have already made decisions regarding the status of fall sports. While some are planning to move forward with their initially scheduled dates, other states have either postponed the start of fall sports or have canceled fall sports.

Swimming is predominantly a winter sport, although a handful of states conduct their season during the fall, most notably Florida. The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) recently announced it will not start fall sports until August 24, a month later than the targeted date of July 27. Florida’s decision to postpone followed major pushback after the FHSAA decided to stick with its original starting date, despite as many as 10,000 new COVID-19 cases each day.

Although most states do not hold high school swimming in the fall, there are two primary reasons why decisions surrounding fall sports will have an effect on swimming. First, if football is canceled in certain states, there will be a significant loss of money brought in by that sport, and that will have an effect on budgets. Second, if fall sports are moved back or scheduled after the winter season, season lengths can be cut short and teams may participate in a fraction of the number of meets that is typical. There is also the possibility of postseasons being abbreviated or eliminated.

It is worth keeping an eye on what is unfolding around the country for the fall sports season. MaxPreps, which does an excellent job covering scholastic sports on a national and regional level, recently compiled a list that looks at the status of states around the nation when it comes to fall sports. That list can be found here.

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Dawn Traub

3 years ago

Our school district has already canceled both fall and winter sports since winter sports begin in November when school will still be held virtually

Ja Bounce

3 years ago

Reply to Dawn Traub

Dawn Traub but yet NBA, MLS, MLB, & soon NFL will be playing in fall… If they can test/play why can’t the YOUTH of these same sports have the same privileges…

Ja Bounce

3 years ago

I still have yet to see any U.S. TESTING of Pool/Athletes to show just cause for closure/cancelation of Water Polo & Swimming. Show the test results For/Against then move forward… #Chlorine #Polo #Swimmers #NeedTransparency

Maria Grannell

3 years ago

It’s ridiculous; could there be any more socially distant sport than diving?

Donna Sizemore Hale

3 years ago

Well then. It looking good