The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association has announced that its board of directors voted 25 to five to allow for fall sports to move forward. The board also supported allowing school districts to make the decision on whether to compete and whether to limit specific sports from competing.

On August 6th, Governor Tom Wolf recommended but did not order, that school sports not take place until 2021. At least one district, Cheltenham School District, has already determined to cancel its fall sports program. The district made the announcement last night.

Sports programs that compete in the fall are cross country, field hockey, football, golf, soccer, tennis (girls), volleyball (girls), and water polo.

Below is the announcement from the PIAA.

The PIAA Board of Directors voted this afternoon to permit fall sports to begin on Monday, August 24th, based on local school decisions. The Board agrees the decision to compete in athletics should be made locally allowing for each school entity to decide whether to proceed and which sports to sponsor. As the health and safety of students is paramount in moving forward with athletics, the Board believes that through each member schools’ adherence to their developed school health and safety plans and the PIAA Return to Competition guidelines sports can continue.

The PIAA Board of Directors has heard the thousands of voices of student-athletes, parents, coaches, officials as well as community leaders that have contacted us. We remind those individuals who have strongly advocated for athletics that they must keep strict adherence to school health and safety plans. All individuals involved in interscholastic athletic communities have a role in the health and wellness of all participants.

PIAA is committed to providing a season for all sports and all student-athletes in the upcoming school year and will continue to remain flexible. The PIAA Board of Directors also voted that based on local school decisions, the PIAA will monitor school participation in fall sports and may pursue alternate solutions, if needed.

You can find more specific information regarding when sports can start here.