PIAA To Move Forward With Fall Sports As Scheduled

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (KDKA) -- The PIAA is moving forward with fall sports as scheduled.

On Wednesday, the board of directors passed general protocols and sports specific protocols, according to Mike White from our news partner at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The board passed the protocols by a 30-2 vote.

In the PIAA's return to competition guidelines, "at this time spectators for K-12 events are not allowed." Fans being allowed will depend on state guidelines.

In a release, the PIAA says it is offering "flexibility to schools, leagues, and/or conferences to begin contests after the first contest date."

Under a "regular start," the PIAA says heat acclimatization begins Aug. 10, with the first day of practice coming Aug. 17. The first contest day for golf is Aug. 20, Aug. 24 for girls tennis, Aug. 28 for football and Sept. 4 for the remaining fall sports.

Under the "alternate start," heat acclimation begins Aug. 10, and the first date of practice is no earlier than Aug. 17. But each sport must complete a preseason before games begin.

Football begins Sept. 18, while the other seven sports have a start date of Sept. 14, the PIAA says.

Under the "hybrid start," competition for fall sports would begin no later than Oct. 5.