HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — The Hernando School District has decided to postpone the start of its fall sports indefinitely due to COVID-19.
The district based its decision on delaying the fall sports citing recommendations made on a July 19 report from the FHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC).
Fall athletics will be delayed until the community shows a "downward trajectory of positive tests...", the district said.
District officials will monitor data from the Florida Department of Health to determine when football, volleyball, cross country, golf, swimming and cheerleading may begin their season.
When public health benchmarks are met, schools in Hernando will likely hold in-conference games only. A conference schedule will be developed if the season starts without a lengthy delay.
At this time, student-athletes may continue with voluntary conditioning with all the district health safeguards and procedures in place, the district said.
"We hope for no cancellation of fall sports but if the numbers aren’t there, aren’t right for us to open, then that would be the next step," said Athletic Director Steve Crognale. "We’re going to monitor the situation hoping that COVID numbers go down."
