The TSSAA Board of Directors voted today for the second option for a high school football contingency plan, with a hybrid plan deviation.

Option 2 includes:

• Teams would play an eight-game regular season.
• TSSAA would scrap each teams current schedule and set region schedules for all member schools.
• One week of the postseason would be cut out and feature a 16-team postseason bracket.
• Only region champs and region runner-ups would qualify for the playoffs.
• For teams that do not make the postseason, there would be the option to play two additional games to play a 10-game schedule.

TSSAA says that if a health department declares a safer-at-home order, it will shut down sports.

If a team has an outbreak of COVID-19:

• The opposing team who could play will receive a win
• The team who could not play (as a result of a positive COVID-19 test) will not record a win nor a loss
• If this happens during playoffs/postseason play, that team would be eliminated

The 12 regulations passed today include:

Regulation 1: Temperature checks will be required for all players, coaches and team personnel prior to the start of practice, every single day. If the temperature is 100.4 or greater, they must be sent home. They cannot return until they provide documentation that says they’ve tested negative for COVID-19 or they have a physician that says COVID-19 is not the cause of their fever.

Regulation 2: No coach, player, or team personnel may participate in a practice or contest until completing a COVID-19 screening. Must be asked weekly.

Regulation 3: No scrimmages, jamborees, 7-on-7 practices, or any other types of practices with other teams are permitted.

Regulation 4: At a contest, coaches, players, team personnel, officials, administrators or fans must have temperatures checked before entering the facilities. If it is 100.4 or greater they will not be permitted.

Regulation 5: Symptom checklist must be posted prominently at all contests similar to the screening of players and coaches will partake in.

Regulation 6: At a contest where fans are permitted, member schools are encouraged to limit fan attendance to a number that would allow for adequate physical and social distancing.

Regulation 7: Member schools will require that fans must wear masks/face masks while on site.

Regulation 8: Temperature checks and screenings shall apply to member bands, cheerleaders, and student groups at the contests.

Regulation 9: If a public address service is used during a contest, the school will use the service to remind those in attendance to wear masks and social distance.

Regulation 10: Frequent cleaning/sanitization is encouraged.

Regulation 11: Concessions are discouraged.

Regulation 12: All coaches must complete the NFHS online COVID-19 course for coaches prior to start/resume of coaching.

TSSAA also voted to allow the girls soccer regular season to begin September 7, 2020 if Governor Lee’s executive order still runs through August 10, 2020.