The Mississippi High School Activities Association executive committee voted Tuesday to delay the start of fall sports two weeks to Sept. 4 because of concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The decision affects Columbus, New Hope, Caledonia, Noxubee County, West Point, Starkville and West Lowndes high schools.
Football season for public high schools was originally slated to start Aug. 20. Practices are now allowed to begin Aug. 17.
Tuesday’s decision forces the cancellation of several prominent area high school football games, including New Hope at Caledonia on Aug. 20 and Noxubee County at Columbus, Starkville at Oxford and Louisville at West Point on Aug. 28.
Practice for volleyball, cross country and swimming can start Aug. 10 with the first matches set for Aug. 24.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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