For three weeks, the Florida High School Athletic Association’s task force met virtually to discuss when to start practices and the regular season for fall sports. 

The plan they recommended was to roll out starting dates in three phases or divisions from Aug, 10 to Sept. 7.

Schools, or districts, could select a division depending on when they could start practices. Each school could also select a different division for each sport. The regular seasons would be on a staggered schedule, too. 

This provided more leeway for school districts, especially in areas where COVID-19 cases surged in recent weeks.

Now, it appears that plan is no longer being endorsed.

FHSAA executive director George Tomyn has decided not to recommend adopting the current proposal. The rejection comes as districts across the state contemplate moving back the start date for school to give them more time to prepare for social distancing and other issues related to the virus.

Still, the association has not officially delayed practices, which are supposed to start in 11 days. That has left coaches and administrators in limbo.

Will there be another proposal? A recommendation to start later? 

No one knows. 

The recommendation to not move forward with the proposal opens  the possibility of the board picking a date when teams could start practices, then leaving the decisions up to school districts and private schools.