VA High School Football To Start In February Under Approved Plan

VIRGINIA — The Virginia High School League voted 34-1 Monday morning during a video conference to adopt the third model for reopening sports and activities for the upcoming school year. The approved model calls for delaying all sports seasons, including football, and creating a condensed schedule, which would tentatively start Dec. 14 for winter sports and end on June 26 with spring sports.

Winter sports like basketball, gymnastics, indoor track, swim/dive, and wrestling will take place Dec. 14 to Feb. 20. Fall sports like cheer, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, and volleyball have the biggest change, as they will run from Feb. 15 to May 1. Spring sports like baseball, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and track & field will take place April 12 to June 26.

The approved model, called the Condensed Interscholastic Plan, allows all sports to be played during the 2020-2021 school year, VHSL Executive Director Dr. John W. “Billy” Haun said Monday in a statement.

By delaying fall sports, schools will have the opportunity to focus on non-sports issues such as schedules, academic plans, transportation and possible outbreaks of the coronavirus, Haun said.

Once sports start up in December, spectators will be allowed to attend, but at a maximum of 250, and that number includes everyone at the venue, including the student athletes.

Two other models for reopening sports were discussed by the VHSL. In model one, all fall sports would have been canceled, except cross country and golf. In model two, the fall and spring seasons would have switched places, except high-contact sports like soccer and lacrosse, which would not have been played in the fall.

Under the third model, the seasons will be scheduled as follows:

• Season 1 (winter) Dec. 14 – Feb. 20 (First contest date – Dec. 28)
• Season 2 (fall) Feb. 15 – May 1 (First contest date – March 1)
• Season 3 (spring) April 12 – June 26 (First contest date – April 26)

Tynan Rolander, head football coach at South County High School, said he believes the third model, which was approved by the VHSL, was the best choice.

In an interview with Patch earlier this month, Rolander said that excluding football from this fall 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.