After a long two weeks, Pennsylvania finally has an answer on whether or not High School Fall Sports can proceed.
Two weeks ago, the PIAA halted mandatory practices and competition for all sports across Pennsylvania after Governor Tom Wolf recommended that all high school sports be postponed until January 2021. The suspension of sports was held until August 21st, 2020, when the PIAA would meet again to vote on whether to proceed or not.
Today, Friday, the PIAA met and with a vote of 25-5, Pennsylvania High School sports were given the green light to proceed.
The PIAA did give the power to each school on whether they still wanted to proceed.
In a press release, the PIAA stated "The Board agrees to the decision to compete in athletics should be made locally allowing for each school entity to decide whether to proceed and which sports to sponsor. As the health and safety of students is paramount in moving forward with athletics, the Board believes that through each member schools' adherence to their developed school health and safety plans and the PIAA Return to Competition guidelines sports can continue."
First practices for all Fall Sports can begin Monday, August 24th, 2020 with first scrimmage and first competition dates listed below:
First Scrimmage:
- Golf - August 27th, 2020
- Girls Tennis - August 29th, 2020
- Cross Country - August 29th, 2020
- Girls Volleyball - August 29th, 2020
- Field Hockey - August 29th, 2020
- Soccer - August 29th, 2020
- Football - September 5th, 2020
- Water Polo - August 29th, 2020
First Competition:
- Golf - August 27th, 2020
- Girls Tennis - August 31st, 2020
- Cross Country - September 11th, 2020
- Girls Volleyball - September 11th, 2020
- Field Hockey - September 11th, 2020
- Soccer - September 11th, 2020
- Football - September 11th, 2020
- Water Polo - September 11th, 2020