Semoball

Missouri fall football "normalcy" - the exception, not the rule nationwide

No fewer than 17 states have canceled high school football this fall, according to the Indiana-based National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

Nineteen more states have “significantly modified” gridiron play this autumn, with Missouri one of 14 states to have made no changes to scheduling 2020 prep football in the fall, according to NFHS Executive Director Karissa Niehoff.

Volleyball

Niehoff told a virtual gathering of news reporters Tuesday the state of Vermont is giving serious consideration to moving girls’ volleyball outdoors, concerned COVID-19’s respiratory droplets will be less dangerous if the game is not played inside in Fall 2020.

Elite athletes

Niehoff said she believes there will be American households who choose to move from so-called “late-start” states to ones intending to begin fall sports on time but requests that parents “be considerate of the bigger picture,” referring to the increased chance of transferring the coronavirus from one location to another.

Few will play competitively after graduation

The NFHS leader said she is acutely aware for virtually all high school student athletes, there will be no next level.

“The great majority will not play in college,” said Niehoff, opining that fewer than six percent will compete and receive scholarship aid.

Losing a fall season to COVID is a particularly unattractive prospect for many seniors but Niehoff advised health and safety concerns must be paramount.

Vaccine

Niehoff said there has been discussion about requiring student-athletes to take a COVID vaccine, should one become available later this fall.

“We are not sure about making it mandatory at this point,” she said. “We’ll have to see what happens.”

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