The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) has laid out four contingency plans to ensure high school sports are played in the fall of this year.
The TSSAA board voted unanimously that member schools follow the governor’s executive order for sports activities.
As of right now, only weightlifting, conditioning and fundamental work with no contact is permitted for football, soccer, girls soccer, wrestling, basketball and competitive cheer.
According to TSSAA’s website, the four plans now being considered are as follows:
Option one: If the executive order expires on August 29, practice would begin on August 30 with the first game on September 18. All regular season schedules for schools would be replaced by the state office with a seven-week region schedule for all schools. Playoffs would be conducted as usual, but schools that do not make the playoffs would be able to play two extra games after the regular season.
Option two: If the executive order expires on August 29, practice could begin on August 30 with the first game on September 18. All regular season schedules for schools would be replaced by the state office with an eight-week region schedule. The regular season would extend into week 12 and, the first-round of the playoffs would be eliminated (only region champions and runners-up would qualify). Teams that do not qualify for the playoffs would be able to play two extra games after the regular season.
Option three: If the executive order expires on August 29, practice would begin on August 30, with the first game on September 18. Schools would keep their current schedule and begin play with the week five game on September 18. Games scheduled against member schools for week three would be played in week 12. Games scheduled against member schools for week four would be played in week 13. Only region champions would advance to the playoffs beginning in week 14. Schools that do not qualify for the playoffs would be able to play one extra game.
Option four: Cancel playoffs and championships. Start practice on August 30. Schools play games as scheduled beginning with week 5 games on September 18.Move games against member schools from Weeks 1-4 to Weeks 12-15.
No decision has been made at this time.