PHOTO - TSSAA
With the recent order extending the State of Emergency by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, the start of some high school sports in the state could now be delayed until mid-September. During a special called meeting Wednesday, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Board of Control discussed the effect that the extended COVID-19 State of Emergency will have on contact sports in the fall.
According to the TSSAA, football, girls’ soccer, and competitive cheer are considered contact sports.
During the special called meeting, the Board did vote unanimously to mandate that all TSSAA member schools follow the Governor’s executive order for sports activities.
Under the board’s decision, when Tennessee comes out of its dead period, only weightlifting, conditioning and fundamental work with no contact is permitted for football, soccer, girls’ soccer, wrestling, basketball and competitive cheer.
According to a statement on the TSSAA webstite, “football will not be permitted to participate in “7-on-7” competitions due to the extended State of Emergency. Cross country, golf and volleyball will be able to continue, with accommodations, as scheduled. While the association does not sanction cheerleading, it does offer a competitive cheer and dance championship and competitive cheer would fall under the Governor’s order impacting contact sports.”
As for girls’ soccer in Tennessee, the TSSAA is exploring postponing the state championship to allow a few additional weeks for the regular season. Under the options being considered, practice could begin on August 30, with the potential to extend the season and conduct the state championships a few weeks later than usual.
In the statement from the TSSAA, four plans for football were discussed. Those plans included:
1 – If the executive order expires on August 29, practice would begin on August 30 with the first game on September 18. All regular season schedules for schools would be replaced by the state office with a seven-week region schedule for all schools. Playoffs would be conducted as usual, but schools that do not make the playoffs would be able to play two extra games after the regular season.
2 – If the executive order expires on August 29, practice could begin on August 30 with the first game on September 18. All regular season schedules for schools would be replaced by the state office with an eight-week region schedule. The regular season would extend into Week 12 and the first-round of the playoffs would be eliminated (only region champions and runners-up would qualify). Teams that do not qualify for the playoffs would be able to play two extra games after the regular season.
3 – If the executive order expires on August 29, practice would begin on August 30 with the first game on September 18. Schools would keep their current schedule and begin play with the Week 5 game on September 18. Games scheduled against member schools for Week 3 would be played in Week 12. Games scheduled against member schools for Week 4 would be played in Week 13. Only region champions would advance to the playoffs beginning in Week 14. Schools that do not qualify for the playoffs would be able to play one extra game.
4 – Cancel playoffs and championships. Start practice on August 30. Schools play games as scheduled beginning with Week 5 games on September 18. Move games against member schools from Weeks 1-4 to Weeks 12-15.
The TSSAA Board of Control is will meet again on July 8 to make a decision regarding football.
(Info – TSSAA Website)
