AUSTIN, Texas — The University Interscholastic League announced Tuesday it would delay the start of its fall sports season affecting sports like football and volleyball. The delays varied depending on the size of the school.
The first practices for football for 5A and 6A schools were delayed until Sept 7. The first games were delayed until Sept. 24. The state championships were pushed back to Jan., 2021.
The first practices for football for 1A-4A were still scheduled to start Aug. 3 with the first games scheduled for Aug. 27. The state championships were scheduled for Dec. 16-19.
Volleyball practices in the two larger conferences were delayed to Sept. 7 with the first matches beginning Sept. 14. The first volleyball practices in the four smaller conferences were scheduled to begin Aug. 3 with the first matches Aug. 10.
Tennis and cross country won't begin until Aug. 17 for the smaller schools. The two sports won't begin for the larger schools until Sept. 7.
"These adjustments reflect the public health situation at this time and the varying numbers of COVID-19 cases across different geographic areas of the state," the UIL said in a statement. "This plan provides a delay for schools in highly-populated metro areas, primarily conferences 5A-6A, given the challenges with COVID-19 those communities are facing, while providing schools in other areas, primarily 1A-4A, an opportunity to start seasons on schedule."
The Local Health Authority for the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District issued an order Tuesday afternoon that superseded the UIL schedule. The order, which delayed all in-person classes until after Sept. 7, also put all sports on hold until after Sept. 7.
RELATED: All in-person classes delayed until after Sept. 7 in McLennan County, health authority orders
The first day to begin contest show visual/marching curriculum for marching bands was scheduled for Sept. 7.
The highly-anticipated decision comes after the Texas Association of Private & Parochial Schools delayed the start of the fall sports season by five weeks, shortening their football season from 10 games in 11 weeks to six weeks.
The UIL announcement also follows executive athletic director Susan Elza's admission the organization was finalizing its plan during the Texas High School Coaches Association convention Sunday, stating the organization hoped to announce the plan this week.