Right now the Minnesota State High School League is discussing what will happen with fall sports. I'll give updates here on what they decide.

In the initial discussion it sounds like a definite reluctance to move forward with team sports this fall, possibly moving them to spring instead of fall, while possibly moving forward with "individual" sports this fall.

They are talking about what it would look like if some sports are pushed to the spring. It would be an additional "season" flexed into spring, with reduced schedules.

For example a football season that ends May 15 -- with track/baseball/softball pushed into summer? They don't want sports seasons competing with each other.

Some confusion now among the board whether the Return To Play Task Force recommends starting regular fall sports or not --

They say the task force feels good about moving forward this fall with:
Cross Country
Tennis
Swimming and diving

Seeing what USA Swimming was able to do this summer to keep students safe provided a framework that can been followed

They are now going through sport by sport. Discussing tennis first.
-feel should not have large tourneys w/more than 2 teams
-reduce weeks by 20% and matches by 30%
-limiting spectators 25% capacity, no more than 250

Q: if seasons' weeks are reduced, do they start later so end of season remains same timeframe?
A: Better to start tennis Aug 17 -- before kids are in schools -- the task force determined. Could delay start of competitions if needed.

Talking Cross Country -- no more than two or three teams at a meet at a time. They feel it should be offered in the fall.
Some complications need to be decided concerning number of competitors gathered at starting and finish lines.

More ideas for Cross country: No invitations. One to two meets per week. Emphasizing local. Limiting statewide travel. Talking about "culminating events" -- state meets, etc -- will look different than last year. Not a lot of specifics yet on that.

Concerning indoor events -- MDE says visitors will not be allowed in "public learning settings" -- so that applies to spectators. Indoor events not allow spectators. It sounds like this the Edu Dept's rule, at least for the fall.

Talking about Swimming and Diving now: ideas include no invitationals, local or conference competition only. Will be lots more safety ideas to flesh out. No spectators. Sounds like they want it held in the fall. Too soon to decide on "culminating event"

I didn't hear this before. They believe If a particular school is restricted to distance-learning only, they can only practice/coach virtually.

They are now delineating about the rules if a school is in "mandatory" or "Voluntary" distance learning.

The rules are different, it is sounding like, leaving in-person practice a possibility if the school is doing "voluntary" distance learning?

They might now vote on the individual sports (cross-country, tennis, swimming) returning to play in the Fall (August 17 start date). Stand by.

Finally a question on how this addresses equity -- some schools have none of these sports and therefore would have no sports this fall.

They say... Task Force says want all sports to be played at some point this year... even if that means no sports for some schools in the fall.

Start Cross Country, Tennis, Swim and Dive for fall season:
20% reduction in weeks, 30% reduction in contests. 1-2 contests per week of season.
No more than 3 teams in contest for CC, 2 teams in Tennis and swim
Yes: 17
No: 1

St. Clair HS Principal Dustin Bosshart was the only one who voted no, he was the one concerned about schools that don't offer these individual sports.

Now they are talking about Volleyball.

If moving to the spring, they believe better possibility of having fans in the stands and holding a state tourney. They note the conflict with club VB in the spring.
Limit games per week to two, plus shortening week and games played. No invitational tournaments.

I am seeing lots of questions from followers. Since the meeting is ongoing and lots of new info every minute -- I will continue live tweeting and try to get to questions when it's over.

Question -- can volleyball fans be social distanced in gym, or have to live stream games?

A: Last night, MDE reiterated that fans can't be let into a school building.

Question -- do officials get screened before coming into a school?
A: that hasn't been addressed yet. Officials are seen as required part of competition though. Not just a volleyball issue, but all sports.

One member just spoke up in favor of moving forward with team sports this fall.

Discussing whether its better to start this fall and see how far they get until they have to shut down, or better to move to spring and hope things are better at that point.

Edina Assistant Principal Troy Stein saying there is apprehension with indoor volleyball because of it being indoors. Students have been training outdoors, he says.

Talking about how moving fall team sports to spring will affect spring sports as kids take jobs, move on, etc. Are spring sports getting the short end?

One speaking apprehension of postponing VB over the issue of not allowing fans, because of the fluid nature of the restrictions and the coronavirus

Hard to tell a parent they aren't allowed to watch in the gym. But could that be different a month later? Is giving the opportunity to play enough?

Question arises, if a school is required to distance learn, would games and individual competitions be canceled?

Seems unclear.

Any discussion about moving fall team sports to the fourth season?
Yes, but pushing those fall sports into spring/summer... and following them with season 2021, is concerning

Now discussing soccer. No vote yet on Volleyball.

If soccer not starting Aug 17, moving to spring.
Not as concerning to task force as some contact sports. Maybe better chance of keeping this fall?
Ideas:
-keep games local/conference/limit travel
-too early to decide "culminating event"

Soccer ideas continued:
-scrimmages not allowed
-game numbers, 1-2 per week

now moving onto football. no vote on soccer yet.

Football either start Aug 17, or move it to spring
ideas:
-6 game season, eliminate scrimmage, 1 g per week, build flexibility into season to make up games if needed
-reduce playoff weeks if culminating event even possible

Football continued:
also thinking about transportation. if buses need to be social distanced.
Fans, cheerleading, etc also effected.

If FB moved to spring,
more involvement with dance cheer and band possible, fans possible, playoffs more possible.

Board member getting very choked up and emotional.. has senior HS son who plays football

Talking about squeezing in spring sports after playing football in spring.. lots of challenges not to mention prom and all the other school activities in the spring.

Football continued:
Reducing postseason play.. TBD because don't know what playoffs can look like

2 weeks flexibility in scheduling built into total 12 week season.

Member states FB is the biggest challenge

There is more resistance among some board members about moving football to spring. But those resistant have said would move it to spring as last resort.

About dialog with Football coaches association -- football coaches are realistic and know won't have season like last year regardless. What gives best option for longest season possible? 93% said want opportunity to be with students and connect over FB.

Coaches would love to start in fall -- but odds of finishing season is diminished. If not your school, then your opponent.
Ultimately, if fall doesn't exist.. if interrupts learning... coaches would take spring opportunity, according to board member.

New London-Spicer Activities Director John Vraa says his preference is to play fall team sports in the fall. But being able to practice together is so very important.

Member speaks up to say soccer leaders really want it in the fall, as to not interfere with club teams in the spring

I am trying to name which board member is speaking when it is clear to me who it is. But this is over phone and they don't always identify themselves.

Stand by. Vote coming for fall sport votes

Soccer first.

First - reiterating why these fall sports aren't getting pushed into that new late-spring/summer season. It's because they don't want a football season ending and then the next beginning right away, for example.

The two options will be whether these fall sports start Aug 17 as scheduled, or push into spring which would be March through May.

If they switch to this four season model, the normal spring sports like baseball, softball and track would start later. In the fourth season. There is no option of Football being in the fourth, last season of 2020-2021 school year. FB would be fall or early spring.

There would be some potential overlap of season four starting while season three playoffs are on-going. So football teams in playoffs could have baseball players on them who can't start baseball right away, for example, if they go this route.

NOW onto the voting. Soccer first.

Stein makes motion to start soccer August 17 with modified:
30% reduction in competitions
20% reduction in weeks
no scrimmages
1-2 games per week
Culminating event TBD

MOTION PASSES.

SOCCER WILL START AUG 17

Volleyball is next

Motion for Volleyball, moving it to condensed season from March to May
-reduced schedule
-no scrimmage
-no invitationals
-only two teams per event

YES: 111111111
NO: 111111111

IT'S A TIE

Holy, drama.

They do not have a majority. now what?

Motion fails. Volleyball is NOT MOVED TO SPRING.

Now a motion for the August 17 start for volleyball.

They do not have a tiebreaking procedure.

But there will be a vote now to start VB in the fall.

Before the Vote for Volleyball start in the fall, trying to figure out what if the Health Dept shuts them down. Does that mean no volleyball at all this year?

There is concern before some board members vote on a fall volleyball season, that MDH could prevent the season happening at all. Talking extensively with MDH, they say they ultimately will do what MDH says -- and MDH concerns are over the indoor activity, face-to-face setup

There are 18 voting members at the MSHSL meeting. No tiebreaking procedure. Majority is needed to pass a motion, regardless of what it is.

Voting on Fall volleyball season now........

Start Aug 17 volleyball with restrictions

YES: 11111111
NO: 1111111111

The No's have the majority. So Volleyball will NOT start in the fall. it failed 10-8 and not a motion to reconsider volleyball to start in the spring.

I deleted that last tweet because that wasn't the actual vote. it was a vote to reconsider the original motion. i'm sorry. misinterpreted that.

Volleyball has not been decided yet.

There are major concerns about how volleyball interferes in the spring with club volleyball leagues.

Discussing what other options are available... one member talking about how not everyone plays club or AAU sports. Can't afford it. MSHSL sports are the most affordable option.

to reiterate, that last vote, which i deleted, was a vote whether to have a re-vote on moving volleyball to spring. They passed the motion to have a re-vote.

When they are done discussing, they will have a re-vote whether to move volleyball to the spring.

VOTE on VOLLEYBALL being moved to the SPRING

YES: 11111111111
NO: 1111111

11-7 passes.

VOLLEYBALL is moved to the SPRING

Now, Football.
There is a motion to start football on Aug 17.

John Ostrowski from Dover-Eyota made the motion. It sounded like Frank White was trying to make a motion at the same time. The problem with virtual meetings.

With this Aug 17 option, there would be all the restrictions discussed earlier. Shorter season. And if distance learning mandated, then practice and games would be canceled.

One board member points out FB is considered high risk by MDH, another says FB is not being played anywhere right now and maybe bigger challenges than volleyball even.

Member says Sports Medicine advisory committee said: FB and VB both considered high risk and extreme caution should be taken. Difficult to say would be healthy environment.

Asking about catastrophic insurance coverage for virus transmission? More difficult to presume transmission is related to participation, so different than an injury suffered on field.

This will be a contentious vote. All those opposed to fall football are raising all their points during this discussion.