NFHS State-by-State Updates on Fall Sports

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has been tracking the status of fall sports on a state-by-state basis with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The organization shared its latest update on Monday, September 21, with a descriptive map, to show where each state stands on fall sports in the 2020-21 school year.

In addition to the downloadable map, the NFHS has made sports-specific maps on modifications nationwide, including field hockey, football, boys soccer, girls soccer, and volleyball.

Below is a breakdown of where each state stands in its return-to-sports plan as of this week, provided by the NFHS.

Alaska (First contests for fall sports moved from August 14 to August 20)

Arizona (Golf – August 17; Cross Country and Swimming and Diving – August 24; Badminton, Fall Soccer and Volleyball – August 31; and Football – September 7)

California (December 2020 or January 2021)

Colorado (Boys Golf – August 3; Boys Tennis – August 10; Cross Country – August 12; Field Hockey, Football and Sideline Spirit – September 24; Gymnastics, Boys Soccer, Unified Bowling and Girls Volleyball – March 1)

Connecticut (Cross Country, Field Hockey, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, and Volleyball – September 21)

Delaware (September 28)

District of Columbia (January 4)

Florida (August 24)

Illinois (Boys/Girls Golf, Girls Tennis, Boys/Girls Cross Country, and Girls Swimming and Diving – August 10; Boys Soccer, Football, and Girls Volleyball – Spring 2021)

Iowa (The IHSAA announced a revised seven-week regular season football schedule running from August 28 through October 9.)

Hawaii (Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football and Girls Volleyball – January 2021)

Georgia (The Georgia High School Association postponed the start of football season until September 4; while permitted to continue practice, competitive cheerleading competitions are delayed until November 21.)

Kentucky (August 24; The golf season schedule is unchanged.)

Louisiana (Cross Country, Swimming and Diving, and Volleyball – August 31; Football – September 10)

Maine (September 14; Football and Volleyball – TBD for 2021)

Maryland (Winter Sports – February 1; Fall Sports – March 15; Spring Sports – April 26)

Massachusetts (Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Dance, Fall Gymnastics, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, and Volleyball – September 18; Football, Fall Cheer and Unified Basketball – February 22)

Michigan (Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Tennis and Volleyball – August 12; Football – September 8)

Minnesota (Cross Country, Tennis, Soccer, and Swimming and Diving – August 17; Football and Volleyball – September 28)

Mississippi (August 10; Football starts August 17)

Nevada (Winter Sports – January 2; Fall Sports – February 20; Spring Sports – April 3)

New Hampshire (September 8)

New Jersey (September 14; the fall sports of Gymnastics and Volleyball move to Season 3 – February 16)

New Mexico  (The NMAA, through Governor recommendations, canceled contact sports competition for the fall. As a result, the 2020 football and soccer seasons have been switched to the spring semester.)

New York (Cross Country, Field Hockey, Girls Swimming and Diving, Girls Tennis, Boys Soccer and Girls Soccer – September 21; Competitive Cheer, Football and Volleyball – March 1)

North Carolina (Cross Country and Volleyball – November 4; Swimming and Diving – November 23; Basketball – December 7; Boys Soccer and Lacrosse – January 11; Football – February 8; Boys Tennis, Girls Soccer and Softball – March 1; Baseball, Girls Tennis, Track and Field, and Wrestling – April 12; and Cheerleading – May 1)

Ohio (August 21)

Oregon (Basketball, Swimming and Diving, and Wrestling – December 28; Football, Soccer, Volleyball and Cross Country – February 22)

Pennsylvania (August 24)

Rhode Island (Cross Country, Girls Tennis, Field Hockey, Sideline Cheer and Soccer – September 21; Football and Volleyball – Spring 2021)

South Carolina (Girls Golf, Swimming and Diving, and Girls Tennis – August 17; Cross Country and Volleyball – August 24; Competitive Cheer and Football – September 8)

Texas (August 3 for conferences 1A-4A football and volleyball; conferences 5A-6A start September 7)

Vermont (September 8)

Virginia (Basketball, Gymnastics, Indoor Track and Field, Swimming and Diving, and Wrestling – December 7; Competition Cheerleading, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf and Volleyball – February 4; Baseball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Track and Field – April 12)

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Washington (Alternate seasons for Cross Country, Golf, Softball and Tennis – September 7; Football – February 17; Cheerleading, Cross Country, Girls Swimming and Diving, 1B/2B Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Softball and Volleyball – March 1; Other alternate seasons for Golf and Tennis – March 1)

West Virginia (August 17)

Wisconsin (Fall Sports – August 17; Winter Sports – November 23; Alternate Fall Sports – February/March, per WIAA Release; and Spring Sports – April 19)

To read the full article from the NFHS, and more offerings from the high school sports governing body, click here.