UIL releases changes to the 2020-2021 UIL calendar

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5A-6A to begin practice Sept. 7

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The University Interscholastic League (UIL) presented modifications to the 2020-2021 UIL calendar in a press release Tuesday. These changes won’t have much of a change to schools in conferences 1A-4A but will drastically change the timelines for schools in conferences 5A-6A.

5A schools such as Sulphur Springs were prepared to begin their first day of practice for volleyball and football Aug. 3, but they will now have to wait until Sept. 7 to do so.

“This plan provides a delay for schools in highly-populated metro areas, primarily conferences 5A-6A, given the challenges with COVID-19 those communities are facing, while providing schools in other areas, primarily 1A-4A, an opportunity to start seasons on schedule,” the press release read.

Conferences 1A-4A will still begin their practices Aug. 3, with volleyball having their first game Aug. 10 and football having their first games Aug. 27.

For the schools in conferences 5A-6A, volleyball won’t play their first game until Sept. 14, and football won’t play their first game until Sept. 24.

This will also make drastic changes in the playoff scheduling. The volleyball state championships for conferences 5A-6A will now be played on Dec. 11-12, opposed to Nov. 18-21 for conferences 1A-4A.

The football state championships for conferences 5A-6A have yet to set a date, but will be played in Jan. 2021. Conferences 1A-4A will have their football state championships on the weekend of Dec. 16-19. 

Volleyball and football aren’t the only sports affected as changes to the team tennis and cross country schedules have been implemented as well. Both team tennis and cross country will start Aug. 17 for conferences 1A-4A but will start Sept. 7 for conferences 5A-6A. 

A few changes have been made to basketball as well. Teams will have a limit of 27 games in their season, and each team will be allowed to have two scrimmages with no more than four teams allowed to meet for scrimmage purposes at one sight. No tournaments or showcases will be allowed for the 2020-2021 season.

“Our goal in releasing this plan is to provide a path forward for Texas students and schools,” UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithupt said. “While understanding situations change and there will likely be interruptions that will require flexibility and patience, we are hopeful this plan allows students to participate in the education-based activities they love in a way that prioritizes safety and mitigates risk of COVID-19 spread.”

Graphic courtesy University Interscholastic League
Graphic courtesy University Interscholastic League