The return of sanctioned sporting events for Oregon high schools has been delayed once again after the Oregon School Activities Association approved a plan that will push back the first contests of the 2020-21 school year until March.

A vote of the OSAA’s executive board on Monday opted to move the start date of high school sports from early January 2021 to early March, as Oregon communities continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new sports calendar will continue to offer three separate seasons for fall, winter and spring sports to take place. Each season will span a six week period, starting with fall sports (football, soccer, volleyball and cross country) in March.

Practices for fall sports will begin on February 22 for every sport except football, which is scheduled to begin practices on February 8 – with approval from the governor and local health authorities. Currently football is prohibited as a full contact sport.

Typical spring sports (baseball, softball, golf, tennis and track and field) are scheduled to begin practices April 5, with competitions starting April 12. The winter sports season will move to the end of the school year. Swimming, wrestling and basketball will all begin practices May 10 and competitions on May 17.

The OSAA executive board was clear in its meeting that its goal is to have a safe return to play and that the steps taken this week are being done to provide enough time for counties in Oregon to reduce their risk levels within the governor’s framework.

The executive board is scheduled to meet again on February 8.