AURORA — For the first time, each of CHSAA’s 11 fall sports have a uniform start date. And that date is today.
Monday marks the official start of practice for boys and girls cross country, field hockey, football, boys golf, gymnastics, boys soccer, softball, spirit, boys tennis and volleyball. It also kicks off the 2018-19 athletic season.
The change is the result of a vote at the April Legislative Council meeting which moved all sports to the NFHS calendar. It aligned all sports to more uniform dates. In the past, sports have started practice at staggered times.
From here, the fall calendar moves along quickly:
- The first scrimmage and contest for boys golf, boys tennis and softball is Thursday.
- The first scrimmage for cross country, field hockey, gymnastics, boys soccer, spirit and volleyball is Saturday. The first contest for those sports is Aug. 16.
- Football can use its full uniform in practice on Thursday, and player-to-player contact is permitted Friday. Full contact is allowed on Saturday. Football scrimmages are permitted on Aug. 16 — giving many teams the opportunity to have two scrimmage dates for the first time. The first football games are allowed on Aug. 23.
The first championship event of the 2018-19 season is boys golf, which has its state meets from Oct. 1-2.
More important dates are available on the 2018-19 calendar.