No High School Football In Virginia This Fall Due To Coronavirus

VIRGINIA — High school football and other high-contact sports will not be played in Virginia this fall due to concerns about spreading the coronavirus, according to the Virginia High School League. Plans are under review, however, that could shift the football season to spring 2021.

The VHSL, the governing body of high school sports in Virginia, said it will decide the fate of the 2020 fall sports season on July 27. The organization's executive committee voted Wednesday to choose from three models presented at the meeting for reopening sports. None of the models includes playing football this fall.

"All our efforts will continue towards advocating for the opening of sports and activities in a safe and reasonable way that will protect athletes, activity participants, coaches, officials and the public,” VHSL Executive Director Dr. John W. “Billy” Haun said Wednesday in a statement.

The three models to be voted on July 27 by the VHSL's executive committee for the opening of sports are:

Model 1 – Low- and moderate-contact-risk sports that would be allowed to play are golf and cross-country. High-risk sports that would not be played are field hockey, football, volleyball and cheerleading. These high-risk sports would resume in fall 2021.

Model 2 – Switch fall and spring seasons. Low- and moderate-contact-risk sports that would be allowed to play in the fall are track and field, tennis, soccer, baseball and softball. High-risk sports that would not be played are boys and girls lacrosse.

Model 3 – Delay all VHSL sports and adopt the Condensed Interscholastic Plan. Leave all sports in the season where they are currently aligned. Under this model, each sports season would be shrunk to about 60 percent of its traditional length.

• Season 1 (winter sports): Dec. 14 to Feb. 20
• Season 2 (fall sports): Feb. 15 to May 1
• Season 3 (spring sports): April 12 to June 26

In a statement, Shannon Butler, VHSL executive committee chairwoman and principal at York High School, said the goal of the organization is to provide students the best opportunity to return to the playing fields, courts and tracks during this school year in as safe of an environment as possible.

Sean Finnerty, head football coach at Patriot High School in Nokesville, said he believes everyone is trying to make the best decisions possible for everyone involved in football across the state. "It's an extremely tough decision," he said in an email to Patch.

Finnerty said he is now focusing on "making sure our boys get a season, whether it's this winter or spring."

"Football means more than just a sport to our boys," he said. "It's a tool that is used for many things whether it is to get to college or learning life lessons."

In Lorton, Tynan Rolander, head football coach at South County High School, said he believes the VHSL will likely approve a football season to be played in spring 2021.

"Of the three models the VHSL is voting on, only one model entirely excludes football for the 2020-2021 school year and I don’t believe that option will ultimately be approved as football is an integral sport to both schools’ and the VHSL’s financial health," Rolander said in an email to Patch.

As for excluding football from this fall, Rolander said it is "the smart and right decision to make."

"Given the current situation and likelihood for continued spikes in coronavirus cases in Virginia and for the health of our players, coaches, families and the community who come to watch our games delaying football until the spring is for the best," he said.