Connecticut pushes back high school football, shortens regular season

Connecticut became the 38th state on Friday to announce a plan to play the 2020 football season in the fall, albeit a six-game regular schedule with a two-week start delay. The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference revealed the plan with its entire fall season that included a Sept. 24 football kickoff.

The state's governing high school sports body, in its 100th season, made Aug. 17 the first day of football practice and Sept. 18 the first date teams can scrimmage. The playoffs are scheduled for Nov. 2-15.

All other fall sports in Connecticut — cross country, field hockey, soccer, swimming and volleyball — also were given Sept. 24 start dates for games.

The CIAC warned its plan is "fluid and in a perpetual state of evaluation," noting that "COVID health metrics and data in Connecticut will continue to be closely monitored and the appropriateness of holding youth sport and/or interscholastic athletic contests can change at any time."

The plan also recommends that positive player tests for COVID-19 should be handled by local health agencies, and that spectator attendance should also be handled by each school and local district. "The CIAC understands that playing games without fans may be appropriate for some schools but not logistically possible for others."

Of the 38 states to play football in the fall, Connecticut is the 11th to push back its season. More are expected to move seasons back as mandates come down from state political, health or education entities.

Six states and the District of Columbia have announced plans to move football to the winter or spring of 2021.

As of July 31, six states have yet to announce definitive plans for the fall.