Minnesota high school football, volleyball move to new fourth season next spring – Minneapolis Star Tribune

Moving the girls and young boys soccer seasons also was talked about but the board authorized resuming the sport on time. Practice can start Aug. 17, with a 20% much shorter season in weeks and a 30% reduction in games, restricted to one or 2 per week. Configuring a brand-new fourth season– in between the end of the winter season sports season and the start of spring sports– showed league concerns about going head-to-head with sports such as baseball, lacrosse and softball. And the 4th season would go from May 15 to July 15.”

The beach ball motion failed on a 9-9 vote. The sport has a strong offseason club component for many high school athletes. Subsequent conversation resulted in an 11-7 vote to move volleyball to the new 4th season beginning in March, with a reduced season that consists of no invitational fulfills.

Setting up a new fourth season– in between completion of the winter season sports season and the start of spring sports– showed league concerns about going head-to-head with sports such as baseball, lacrosse and softball. While no dates have been firmed up, league associate director Bob Madison said Monday, “For example, any sports transferred to spring would range from March 15 to May 15. And the 4th season would go from May 15 to July 15.”

In clearing girls tennis, cross-country and girls swimming and diving to begin this month, the league restricted the variety of competing events to a couple of weekly and ditched large invitationals. Cross-country meets can not exceed three groups while tennis and swimming can only hold double competitors.

The fall football proposition, which consisted of a six-week season and no skirmishes against other challengers, was declined on a 12-6 vote. The board then voted to play football beginning in March, with six routine season video games, no scrimmages and a postseason strategy to be figured out.

Moving football and beach ball out of the fall season reflected concerns about infection exposure and other logistics primarily coming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Minnesota becomes the ninth state to delay its high school football season.

Taking that action into account, the job force on Friday provided 4 possible frameworks for resuming play prior to narrowing them to 2 by Monday.

Beyond the boards announcement, much remains uncertain, such as transport and security procedures.

Recently, Gov. Tim Walz revealed the states prepare for the go back to education, giving individual school districts the ability to set their own agenda moving forward and asking that each follow recommended guidelines.

The league considered motions to play football and volleyball in the fall however both failed.

The high school league shut down all athletic competition in March in action to the coronavirus pandemic. This summertime, the league has actually allowed for team exercise within suggested guidelines.

Individual-based sports– cross-country, ladies tennis, and women swimming and diving– were approved to start on time by a 17-1 vote of league board members, with first practices arranged on Aug. 17. Limitations on the number of events and completing teams likewise were authorized.

Subsequent conversation led to an 11-7 vote to move beach ball to the brand-new 4th season beginning in March, with a minimized season that consists of no invitational satisfies.

Members of the leagues recently formed return-to-participation job force, which dealt with the propositions leading to Tuesdays vote, acknowledged that moving an entire season comes with downsides, such as the prospective departure of athletes who graduate and a lack of available indoor facilities in early spring.

Moving the women and boys soccer seasons also was discussed but the board authorized resuming the sport on time. Practice can start Aug. 17, with a 20% shorter season in weeks and a 30% decrease in video games, limited to a couple of each week. A decision on postseason play will be determined later.

League Executive Director Erich Martens stated Monday that “versatility and flexibility continue to be constants” as the school year resumes. “Were going to have to be all set to change if we begin something and it readies back,” he stated,

The 20-member high school league board represents 500 member schools and 240,000 trainees taking part in its 43 approved activities and sports.

High school football and volley ball will shift to a brand-new “4th season” beginning in March 2021 while soccer and specific fall sports can begin practice on time in less than 2 weeks. All seasons would be much shorter, with coronavirus issues directing possible changes along the way.

The league formed a return-to-participation job force on July 14 to guide the resumption of activities for the approaching academic year.

Check back later on for updates on this story.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, 29 states– consisting of Iowa and Wisconsin– had actually postponed at least part of their fall sports schedules as of Monday.

Thats what the Minnesota State High School League decided Tuesday in a virtual board meeting using up extremely expected steps to reboot competitive sports for the very first time considering that March.