Video: Which state plays the best prep football?
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The Arizona Interscholastic Association announced it will delay the start of all athletics after Gov. Doug Ducey's recent executive order pushed back the school year start until Aug. 17. The governor's order was in response to a spike in the state's coronavirus cases.
The high school football season was to start the weekend of Aug. 20.
This delay will likely postpone or cancel at least 1-3 non-league or
conference games.
The AIA will send out surveys to principals to figure out when a proper date for sports to begin.
Arizona has seen its COVID-19 cases jump in the past two weeks with a high of 3,902 on June 22.
"This will push back the starting dates of practice for all fall sports and activities, and delay the start of competition seasons," the AIA wrote in a statement. "The AIA will continue to meet with the numerous statewide stakeholders and prepare to create alternative sports schedules."
The announcement came hours after the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association announced that its high school football practice start date would move back Aug. 3 to Aug. 10 and that Week 0 games will be either canceled or rescheduled.
Arizona power Saguaro was to begin 2020 season at McClintock on Aug. 21.
File photo by Mark Jones
