ABILENE, TX — The wait is over! Texas sports will be back this fall. The UIL (University Interscholastic League) released a updated calendar Tuesday morning with COVID-19 guidelines for the upcoming athletics season.
1A through 4A schools will start on time. 5A and 6A schools with football will be allowed to practice on Sept. 7 and hold games on Sept. 24.
“I’ve never been in this situation before so we will see but there are still things we have to look at… we have to focus on what we can control,” Cooper head coach Aaron Roan said.
As of right now, Governor Abbott is allowing 50% capacity at games for fans.
“We’re hoping it is as close to a normal game and fan experience that it has been in the past even when the challenges this summer has brought,” executive director of athletics at AISD, Phil Blue added.
A plus for the 5A and 6A schools is that there is an additional month of practice before kicking off on Sept. 24. Another month means a few degrees taken off the temperature come the end of September.
The main goal all along for summer workouts was to follow protocols and stay safe in order to play fall ball. Abilene High head coach Mike Fullen is pleased with the way the district has followed the guidelines so far this summer.
“What we did this summer with the strength and conditioning and the protocols we put in was to allow the UIL to move forward with this. The goal was to get to the fall, so far it looks like that’s where we’re at.”
