Class A football playoffs reduced

In the world of the coronavirus, sports are going to have to continue to change and adapt. And that's true of high school sports in Montana.

As fall sports return this week, the Montana High School Association Executive Board met Thursday, with plenty of items on the agenda, including approving a recommendation that the 2020 Class A football playoffs be reduced to eight teams, down from 12.

The 2020 playoffs will begin Oct. 30 and the Class A state championship game will be played Nov. 14. The Class A playoffs will include the top four teams from the Eastern A and the top four teams from the Western A.

The MHSA also allowed Class A, B and C schools to cancel non-conference games as well, a move the Eastern A announced last week, which effectively pushed back the start of football and volleyball season. Cross country would also not attend any meets with Class AA schools, while Class A golf would remain somewhat normal, with the exception of events where the Northeast A would only play together, and the Southeast A would play together. Golf rules for COVID-19 include allowing just 45 players at tournaments held on nine-hole courses, and 90 players at tournament played at 18-hole courses. Havre High, which has canceled its trip to the Great Falls Invitational Monday, has tournaments.

The meeting Thursday also saw Class AA make a motion to move football to early spring should it not obtain a waiver from the state of Montana to override the governor's 50-person limit to activities. Class AA football programs contend they cannot play games limited to just 50 people. The measure was proposed in the MHSA Executive Board meeting but did not get seconded, so a vote wasn't taken. 

The MHSA also voted to require masks for all coaches, players and officials, regardless of whether they are in a county of four or more active cases. Masks are not required during play, but will be on the bench.

They also decided on rules for returning to play after COVID-19. The new rule states, "Any MHSA activity participant who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 cannot return to play until he/she is evaluated by a licensed health care professional, and has written clearance to return to play by both the county health department and a licensed health care professional."

Due to the anticipated shortage of officials, the MHSA adopted changes to the required number for regular season soccer and football contests. Rather than three, regular season soccer games can be held with two when necessary. And football can use four officials rather than five officials when needed this fall.