FHSAA eyeing some big moves

High school athletes in Florida would be allowed to play in varsity and sub-varsity football games in the same week — pending a waiver — if approved this week by Florida High School Athletic Association board of directors.

The FHSAA board is scheduled to meet via videoconference on Tuesday at 9 a.m. after holding virtual committee meetings on Monday.

The board is expected to vote to approve the new football measure despite concerns over how to police the policy. The change would alter the existing rule of one game per week and would allow players to participate in up to six quarters.

A preliminary draft of the proposal states that teams would need to apply for a waiver by Monday of Week 3 in the regular season and that a program’s history and current and past roster size will factor into the decision.

Also expected to gain approval Tuesday is the addition of girls sand volleyball and girls wrestling under the FHSAA umbrella. Both sports previously gained endorsementsfrom committees.

The Sunshine State Athletic Conference currently governs 76 “beach” volleyball high school teams in the spring, including 13 from the Orlando area. Other schools in the area have organized teams that compete independently.

Financial stress for athletic budgets due to the coronavirus pandemic could pose a roadblock when it comes to adding those sports in time for the 2020-21 school year.

Expected to generate lengthy discussion at Tuesday’s meeting is a recommended update to the FHSAA “summer athletic participation” policy.

The FHSAA was asked to look over existing language and offer potential changes to the board.

The most extreme change on the table forbids member schools from participating in any school-based activities during the summer. Currently, a number of school districts have allowed athletes to return to campus while schools in populous South Florida remain shuttered due to COVID-19 concerns.

Four options for summer participation are up for discussion, including the current policy that reads: “The FHSAA does not regulate the athletic activities of member schools held with their own students during the summer as defined herein with the exception of football. The individual member school principal, district school superintendent, district school board, charter or private school governing board are responsible for adopting regulations governing the activities of their respective schools during this period of time.”