(WWJ) High school athletes in Michigan will be able to kick off the New Year by diving back in the pool and hitting the court.
Fall tournaments for football, girls’ swimming and diving and girls’ volleyball will resume after New Year’s Day.
Football regionals will be held on January 2nd, with semi-finals and finals on the following two weekends.
Girls’ volleyballs quarter finals are January 5th with finals on January 7th. Girls’ swimming and diving finals are the 15th and 16th.
See the Michigan High School Athletic Association's (MHSAA) full schedule here.
Practices can start as soon as Monday.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said this is all possible because of a new rapid testing program, that they hope to roll out in schools in January.
“We will be offering a new pilot program for fall sports including contact sports, to use antigen tests to ensure safety as students complete fall championships,” MDHHS Director Robert Gordon said. “This is a very limited number of schools.”
Click here to read more about the rapid tests.
“It will let students complete a season that is very important to them,” Gordon said. “And it will let schools and the state of Michigan work together to learn how to use antigen tests so we can safely reopen in January.”
All COVID-19 protocols remain in place, including mandatory masks and no spectators.
Winter indoor sports are on hold until at least January 16th. The MHSAA is slated to hold a meeting on January 22nd to figure out next steps.