The Utah High School Activities Association approved the return of sports and activities for the upcoming fall 2020-21 school year.

Thursday’s announcement will allow the seven fall sports (football, boy’s golf, 1A baseball, volleyball, cross country, girl’s tennis and girl’s soccer) to continue as originally scheduled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Association’s governing board also affirmed a stance of allowing schools and local school districts, in conjunction with local government leaders and health department officials, to determine whether participation in high school activities is allowable and advisable under statewide and local guidelines.

Each high school throughout the state will remain under the watch of county health departments.

The protocols put in place will coincide with the state’s color coded risk phases. Each safety measure will move to a different level based on the “high risk” to “new normal” levels.

The Board-of-Trustees will meet again in late July to continue dialogue regarding statewide health recommendations and best practices.