Swimmers in Michigan are scheduled to return to the water for the fall season, according to a plan released by the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) on Friday, announcing high school sports will return in the fall.<\/p>\n
Girls swimming is a fall high school sport in Michigan.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania and Louisiana have followed similar fall sports guidelines as well, preparing to return as scheduled, depending on the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n
MHSAA schools will begin the 2020-21 school year playing Fall sports as traditionally scheduled, but with contingency concepts for potential interruptions due to the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n
The MHSAA Representative Council, the Association\u2019s 19-member legislative body, met virtually with MHSAA staff Wednesday (July 15) to discuss a series of ideas for playing sports beginning in August. The Council will meet again July 29 for further discussion. Currently, high school football practices are scheduled to begin Aug. 10, with all other Fall sports to start practice Aug. 12.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think in the overall picture of heading back to school the closer we can get to a \u2018normal\u2019 fall the better,\u201d said Steve<\/strong> Bowyer<\/strong>, coach at West Ottawa High School in Michigan. \u201cSports is a big part of that. Safely getting kids back in the pool, in gyms, and on the field is mentally and physically good for everyone. We are still going to have to be flexible and I’m sure make some adjustment along the way but this is good news for high school athletics in Michigan.\u201d<\/p>\n The MHSAA is moving forward with a plan that first calls for all fall sports to be started and played as scheduled. However, if the situation deems it necessary, the start of some or all fall sports practices or competitions could be delayed. The next step in the plan\u2019s progression calls for lower-risk fall sports that can be played to be completed, with higher-risk Fall sports postponed until later in the school year. If all fall sports must be suspended, they will be rescheduled during a reconfigured calendar that would see Winter sports begin in November followed by the conclusion of Fall and Spring seasons potentially extending into July 2021.<\/p>\n Additionally, the Council considered a concept that would swap traditional Fall and Spring sports, but determined that was not a feasible plan. Football, girls volleyball, girls swimming & diving and boys soccer during the fall are considered moderate or high-risk sports because they include athletes in close contact or are played indoors; they were considered the impetus for potentially switching all Fall sports to Spring. But traditional spring sports \u2013 girls soccer and girls and boys lacrosse \u2013 carry similar risk, negating the value of making that full season switch. Moving only selected Spring sports, like all low-risk to fall, was not considered sound because it would force student-athletes to pick between sports they\u2019ve previously played.<\/p>\n