August 21 PIAA Board of Directors Meeting
By: PIAA | PIAA | August 21, 2020
The PIAA Board of Directors voted this afternoon to permit fall sports to begin on Monday, August 24th, based on local school decisions. The Board agrees the decision to compete in athletics should be made locally allowing for each school entity to decide whether to proceed and which sports to sponsor. As the health and safety of students is paramount in moving forward with athletics, the Board believes that through each member schools' adherence to their developed school health and safety plans and the PIAA Return to Competition guidelines sports can continue.
The PIAA Board of Directors has heard the thousands of voices of student-athletes, parents, coaches, officials as well as community leaders that have contacted us. We remind those individuals who have strongly advocated for athletics that they must keep strict adherence to school health and safety plans. All individuals involved in interscholastic athletic communities have a role in the health and wellness of all participants.
PIAA is committed to providing a season for all sport sand all student-athletes in the upcoming school year and will continue to remain flexible. The PIAA Board of Directors also voted that based on local school decisions, the PIAA will monitor school participation in fall sports and may pursue alternate solutions, if needed.
Updated Start Dates for Fall 2020
In compliance with Article XVI: Season and Out-of-Season Rules and Regulations
| Golf | Girls Tennis | XC | Girls Volleyball | Field Hockey | Soccer | Football* | Water Polo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Practice Date: | Aug 24 | Aug 24 | Aug 24 | Aug 24 | Aug 24 | Aug 24 | Aug 24 | Aug 24 |
| First Scrimmage Date: | Aug 27 | Aug 29 | Aug 29 | Aug 29 | Aug 29 | Aug 29 | Sept 5 | Aug 29 |
| First Contest Date: | Aug 27 | Aug 31 | Sept 11 | Sept 11 | Sept 11 | Sept 11 | Sept 11 | Sept 11 |
*Football must sponsor heat acclimatization for 5 consecutive days if starting prior to Friday, September 4. Following heat acclimatization, 5 days of practice must be completed before a Scrimmage. Based on the practice schedule in completed 5 practices, a Scrimmage could occur as early as September 3. 5 additional days of practice must occur prior to the first Contest. A Contest cannot take place prior to September 11. If starting on or after September 4, sponsoring heat acclimatization is a local school decision to be dictated by weather conditions. Schools must have 15 days of practice prior to their first contest.
