By Scott Nason
“The Game” ESPN 1400
TheGameSportsShow.podvean.com
Three Eastern Upper Peninsula high school football teams will be seeking district and regional titles on Friday night, as Cedarville, Pickford and Sault High all were victorious this past weekend.
The Great Lakes intercollegiate Athletic Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors approved the winter and spring competition calendar Tuesday based on evolving COVID-19 testing, travel and venue protocols.
The approved schedule models for fall sports competing in the spring feature a reduced conference-only regular season, plus a conference tournament.
Winter sports that don’t operate with a conference schedule, such as swimming & diving and indoor track & field, may compete according to normal NCAA guidelines, while men’s and women’s basketball will have a unique conference schedule that begins Jan. 7. Presidents and chancellors also allowed non-conference games prior to Jan. 1 to be scheduled at the intuitions’ discretion.
During the past several months, GLIAC athletic directors, athletic trainers and the league’s COVID-19 Task Force have assembled safe competition protocols and several schedule revisions. The GLIAC is establishing consistent COVID-19 testing, safe training, travel, hosting and in-game protocols among its 12 members. Presidents and chancellors will make a final decision on testing requirements at a later date.
“Our administrators, coaches and the task force have been meeting weekly with the hope of getting our student-athletes back on the court or field next semester,” GLIAC Commissioner Kris Dunbar said. “Their commitment to this process is impressive, and the safety of the student-athletes, staff and our communities have been at the forefront of our decisions. I can’t understate how proud I am of how far we’ve come and what we’ve weathered.”
Schedule models will be announced on the following dates:
Schedule release timeline
- Men’s and Women’s Basketball – Thursday, Nov. 12 – 1 p.m.
- Men’s and Women’s Soccer – Monday, Nov. 16 – 11 a.m.
- Volleyball – TBA
Volleyball is slated to begin Feb. 19, and men’s and women’s soccer on March 19. The Fall 2020 women’s tennis season will be played in the spring in conjunction with the men’s season. The Fall 2020 cross country season was canceled, and GLIAC members have been given autonomy to schedule football scrimmages or up to five spring competitions. Spring 2021 sports schedules have remained as-is, but all schedules are subject to change due to the pandemic.
For more high school football coverage, and other local sports, including regional and national coverage, check out this Monday night’s edition of “The Game” on ESPN 1400.
You can hear Scott's podcasts at www.thegamesportsshow.podbean.com
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