Charlottesville, Va. – The VHSL Executive Committee meeting in special session Thursday voted unanimously (33-0-0) to adopt the “Championships + 1” schedule for the 2020-2021 athletic and academic activities seasons.
Every sport will hold a state championship, and each sport will play 60% of the normal contests allowed.
Thus, the maximum number of contests in each sport is as follows: basketball, 14; gymnastics 6; indoor track, 6; swim and dive, 6; wrestling 8; competition cheer 3; cross country, 6; field hockey, 10; football, 6; boys’ golf 8; girls’ golf 3; volleyball, 12; baseball, 12; lacrosse, 9; soccer, 10; softball, 12; tennis, 10; track and field, 6.
Football will have 7 dates to play 6 games (all in 2021): Feb. 22, Feb. 27, March 5, March 12, March 19, March 26, and April 2.
Any game not played due to COVID-19 issues will be treated as a game “not played” versus a forfeit.
Under the “Championships + 1” condensed interscholastic plan adopted by the VHSL executive committee, the seasons are as follows: Season 1 (winter) Dec. 7 – Feb. 20 (first contest date Dec. 21): basketball, gymnastics, indoor track, swimming and diving, wrestling; Season 2 (fall) Feb. 4 – May 1 (first contest date March 1): competition cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, volleyball; Season 3 (spring) April 12 – June 6 (first content date April 26): baseball, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field.
The academic a will take place from December to June: theatre, scholastic bowl, forensics, debate, robotics, film festival, creative writing, publications evaluation and multimedia contest.
“We have received invaluable input from our school communities, parents and students who say the physical and mental health benefits of getting our students back to a level of participation is extremely important,” said VHSL Executive Director Dr. John W. “Billy” Haun. “The Championships + 1 schedule will provide sports in all three seasons.
“The VHSL Executive Committee acknowledges that no plan is perfect. We are in unprecedented times in which we have been forced to create a temporary new normal,” Dr. Haun said. “We understand this plan, or any plan, will not meet the expectations for those wanting a normal fall, winter and spring sports season. This plan, however, will allow student-athletes and academic activity participants the opportunity of having a season and playing for a state championship.”
