The AHSAA announced today that high school football season would start on time.

The Central Board of Control approved a return-to-play plan at its meeting on Wednesday in Montgomery.

“The purpose of the Return to Play document is to offer AHSAA member schools best practices in order to commence the 2020-21 school year athletic seasons as scheduled and as safely as possible,” AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese said in a news release Wednesday afternoon.

Fall sports can begin practice on Monday, July 27. Football teams can use the first week for acclimation purposes with helmets and shorts only. Other fall sports – volleyball, cross-country, and swimming/diving – can use the first week for acclimation and tryouts.

Any school that chooses not to start on Monday can begin fall practice on Aug. 3.

Aug. 20 is the date when the first official contest can be played.