Virginia pushes high school football off fall calendar

The Virginia High School League's Executive Committee on Wednesday pushed football off the fall schedule, voting unanimously to decide new sports calendars on July 27. The committee has nearly two weeks to flesh out which of three options would allow student-athletes to return to the fields and courts for the first time since March 12.

Executive Director Dr. John Haun said in a release that playing sports in the "high risk" category, such as football, depends on being out of Phase III in the state's reopening guidelines.

"All our efforts will continue toward 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,” he said.

The three choices include:

Model 1: Leave all sports in current season. Low- and moderate-contact risk sports like golf and cross country would be played. High-risk sports like field hockey, football, volleyball and cheer would not be played.

Model 2: Switch fall and spring seasons. Low- and moderate-contact sports like tennis, soccer, baseball, softball, and track and field would be played in the fall. Boys/girls lacrosse would not be played.

Model 3: Delay all sanctioned sports and condense the schedule, leaving sports in their currently aligned seasons.

• Season 1 (Winter) Dec. 14 to Feb. 20. First contest Dec. 28.

• Season 2 (Fall) Feb. 15 to May 1. First contest March 1.

• Season 3 (Spring) April 12 to June 26. First contest April 26.

“The goal in all our discussions has been to provide our student-athletes and activity participants the best opportunity to return to the playing fields, courts, track, and stages during this school year in a safe environment as possible," said Shannon Butler, VHSL executive committee chair and York High School principal.