SPORTS & RECREATION
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AIA releases updated fall school sports schedule BY ZACH ALVIRA Progress Sports Editor
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he future of fall sports in Arizona became clearer Wednesday as the Arizona Interscholastic Association released a revised schedule. Boys and girls golf will be the �irst teams to begin practices, hitting the fairways on Aug. 17 with the �irst competition slated for Sept. 7. Cross country and swim and dive were pushed back a week to Aug. 24, with of�icial competition beginning Sept. 14. Badminton, fall soccer and volleyball will begin practice on Aug. 31 and games Sept. 14, 16 and 21, respectively. Football, which poses the biggest risk of virus spread because of the level of physical contact, will now begin of�icial practices on Sept. 7, with the �irst week of competition on Sept. 30 for freshman and running through Saturday, Oct. 3, for varsity teams. The AIA previously announced of�icial practices for all sports would begin Aug. 17, with competition for most sports beginning four weeks later on Sept. 11. Aside from golf, all other sports have been pushed back. “The health and safety of our student participants, coaches, of�icials and essential personnel, including volunteers, is the primary concern for the return of interscholastic athletics and activities,” AIA Executive Director David Hines said in a release. “We
are very grateful to those who share our commitment of a return to these highly bene�icial educational activities and athletics.” The amended schedule comes after a state-wide survey the AIA sent to all of its member schools to identify which schools felt comfortable allowing sports to return during the fall semester. Over 250 schools answered the surveys, most of which were in favor of hosting a fall sports season. All fall sports will have an amended schedule, which will result in a reduced number of games and later championships. The AIA announced the updated schedules would be revised and released by conference leaders in the coming days or weeks. Football appears to follow the schedule proposed to Hines and the AIA Monday by the Arizona Football Coaches Association, which called for practices to begin after Labor Day and games the week of Oct. 2 and gained support from more than 100 coaches. The proposal offered an eight-game schedule with an eight-team postseason tournament for all conferences and the Open Division at the end of the season. It also called for the removal of the Thanksgiving bye week and an optional ninth game for teams who do not make the postseason. The AIA announced the football season would conclude on Dec. 11 and 12 for the 4A-6A conferences and Open Division, thus
Below is a detailed look at the new fall sports schedule released by the AIA
Golf First practice – Aug. 17 First competition – Aug. 24 Championships – Oct. 26-29 (Div. I), Nov. 2-5 (Div. II) Cross Country First Practice – Aug. 24 First Competition – Sept. 9 Championships – Nov. 12-13 Swimming & Diving First Practice – Aug. 24
First Competition – Sept. 14 Championships – Nov. 5-7 Badminton First Practice – Aug. 31 First Competition – Sept. 14 Championships – Nov. 7 (Individuals), Nov. 9-12 (Teams) Fall Soccer First Practice – Aug. 31 First Competition – Sept. 16 Championships – Nov. 4-7
Volleyball First Practice – Aug. 31 First Competition – Sept. 21 Championships – Nov. 12-21 Football First Practice – Sept. 7 First Competition – Sept. 30Oct. 3 Championships – Dec. 11/12 (4A-6A & Open)
eluding to an eight-game regular-season schedule and eight-team playoff format. The 1A-3A conferences are currently discussing possibilities for the length of regular season and an ideal date to host state championship games, according to the AIA. It is unclear if the AIA will allow teams who do not make the postseason to schedule other non-quali�iers at the end of the season as the The Arizona Interscholastic Association announced Wednesday afternoon a revised fall sports schedule that AzFCA proposed. “We owe it to our mem- pushes all sports but golf back on the calendar. Football will begin official practices Sept. 7 and games on Oct. 2. bers to provide a direc- (Progress File Photo) tion,” said Toni Corona, the restricted from any activities up until two Executive Board President and Safford Athletic Director. “It may be weeks ago. Brophy announced it would challenging to get everything going for all not move past phase one until September. the schools at one time but with good com- Schools in southern Arizona are still unmunication, we can provide the best pos- able to work out. “Although the many school districts repsible experience for our students in this unprecedented time. This Board and the AIA resented in the AzFCA membership have staff will continue to provide information issued varying rules within their districts, the proposed October 2 date of �irst varsity and guidelines as we proceed.” Especially for football, the timeline will competition appears to provide the schools allow schools who are still restricted from with the suf�icient opportunity to comply participating in summer workouts on cam- with district guidelines and adequately prepare their teams for a full competition pus to be ready for the start of the season. Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Higley season,” the proposal from the AzFCA read. The AIA stressed this new timeline is and Tempe Union districts have allowed teams to return to campus for workouts subject to change based on guidance from in some capacity. Most of which remain in national, state or local health of�icials. The amended fall schedule, if it stands, the �irst phase of their respective district’s return-to-play guidelines, which calls for will result in a week delay to the start of winter sports. At this time, it’s unclear conditioning drills. Gilbert was the �irst to make such a move. whether it will have an effect on the spring Tempe Union made the move this past week season, which was canceled last year due and announced it would have a full discus- to the coronavirus pandemic. “We would like to thank our member sion on sports with its governing board on schools and our school communities for Aug. 18. However, schools in other parts of their patience as we worked through the the Valley just recently started summer challenges to develop this plan,” Hines workouts. Phoenix Union schools were said.
