HS Football & Soccer Will Not Start On Time

The high school football and soccer seasons will not start on time.

TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress said in a memo to all member schools Tuesday that competitions and scrimmages are prohibited under the guidelines issued by Governor Bill Lee Monday.

“Based on the extension of the Governor’s order, football and girls’ soccer cannot begin their seasons as originally scheduled,” Childress said. “We are in the process of developing regular season and postseason options to present to the TSSAA Board of Control for their consideration. The Board will ultimately make the decision as to how this will impact the postseason and if any adjustments can be made to regular season competition.”

Livingston Academy Football Coach Bruce Lamb said coaches sensed the season would be pushed back when the Governor issued Executive Order 50 Monday.

“I think our season’s going to be pushed back at least a few weeks and it may be longer than that,” Lamb said.

Workouts resumed June 1 as Upper Cumberland high schools. Coaches have worked with limited numbers and social distancing in trying to prepare for the season.

“This is unknown waters for all of us,” Lamb said. “We’ve never ever experienced anything like this. We’re just trying to do what we can do each day and try to get better as an individual and as a team.”

Lamb said coaches statewide have talked informally about how the season could move forward. The decisions will begin with Governor Bill Lee and his overall health orders. Lamb said the TSSAA wants local school systems to have as much say so as possible. But Lamb said that may not work.

“One person said we might just play region games,” Lamb said. “If that went into effect, Livingston Academy will play four games. White County would have zero. I don’t know how that’s fair to anybody.”