The University Interscholastic League came up with a plan to have fall sports for high schools throughout the state for the upcoming school year. Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, most states have had to cancel all fall sports.

This announcement comes one day after the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announced that they were canceling fall sports and would look to play them again with a shortened schedule in Spring 2021. That cancellation has affected in-state universities, Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern.

The proposed plan for high school fall sports would be delaying the dates for Class 5A and 6A until September, while Class 4A and below will be able to begin their seasons in August.

“Our goal in releasing this plan is to provide a path forward for Texas students and schools,” said UIL executive director Dr. Charles Breithaupt in a press release. “While understanding situations change and there will likely be interruptions that will require flexibility and patience, we are hopeful this plan allows students to participate in the education-based activities they love in a way that prioritizes safety and mitigates risk of COVID-19 spread.”

The UIL has also reserved the rights to change these dates if there are any increases in the number of positive coronavirus cases in a district. All Class 4A football and volleyball programs can begin workouts as early as August 3rd while Class 5A and 6A programs will begin after Labor Day.

Texas private schools fall sports were also affected by the coronavirus and on last week the Texas Association of Private Schools and Southwest Preparatory Conference announced that their season won’t begin until after Labor Day as well.

This decision comes after the UIL had allowed school districts to come up with their own set of guidelines based on information given to them by local and state health officials. Most superintendents and athletic directors from around the state worked very hard to put together a plan that would benefit their district while keeping the student-athletes, coaches, and staff safe.

Below are the proposed dates of fall sports activities from the UIL and TAPPS:

UIL

Football 1A-4A

August 3: Practice

August 27-29: Regular season

November 12-14: Playoffs

December 16-19: State championships

Football 5A-6A

September 7: Practice

September 24-26: Regular season

December 10-12: Playoffs

January 2021: State championships

Volleyball 1A-4A

August 3: Practice

August 10: Regular season

November 2-3: Playoffs

November 18-21: State championships

Volleyball 5A-6A

September 7: Practice

September 14: Regular season

November 23-24: Playoffs

December 11-2: State championships

Cross Country 1A-4A

August 17: Regular season

November 14: District certification deadline

December 5: State championships

Cross Country 5A-6A

September 7: Regular season

November 14: District certification deadline

December 5: State championships

Team Tennis 1A-4A

August 17: Regular season

October 24: District certification deadline

November 11-12 State championships

TAPPS

Football

September 8: Start of fall practice

September: 14: First day of full pads

September 24-26: Scrimmage

October 1-3: Regular season

Volleyball

September 8: Start of fall practice

September 14: Scrimmage

September 21: Regular season

Fall Soccer

September 8: Start of fall practice

September 21: Scrimmage

September 28: Regular season

Cross Country

Swimming

Team Tennis

Golf

Cross Country