MHSAA Releases Guidelines for Football Practice

With the 2020 high school football season set to begin in just over a week when preseason camps commence, the Michigan High School Athletic Association has released a new set of guidelines.

The week of Aug. 10-16 is referred to as “Acclimatization Week.” As part of its COVID-19 guidelines, the MHSAA has prohibited scrimmages and practice sessions between other schools this year.

What is allowed for the Week of Aug. 10:

• Footballs
• Helmets
• Agility equipment: Bags, ropes, balls, boxes, chutes and gauntlet machines
• Hand shields/ hand-held dummies
• Blocking and tackling sleds
• Skill work can include 7-on-7, handoffs, quarterback-center exchanges, etc.
• Any team, group or positional meetings should be held outdoors with physical distancing or be held virtually until indoor facilities are open
• Sanitize equipment as frequently as possible during practice sessions
• No single practice session should exceed three hours
• Total practice time for days with multiple practice sessions should not exceed five hours

What is NOT allowed for the Week of Aug. 10:

• Shoulder pads
• Lower body pads with football pants