They may be geographical neighbors, but how they've handled high school sports' return to the field couldn't be more different.
The Florida High School Athletic Association hosted a marathon, five-hour meeting in which the only thing that was agreed upon was that the original start date of July 27 will be upheld. Additionally, a to-be-determined date will be established for teams to opt out of the State series; if they do so, the FHSAA will be required to help those schools find supplemental games.
In contrast, the Georgia High School Association's meeting took just over an hour and a half.
Of course, part of the reason for a smoother discussion: the GHSA has been in constant communication with its member schools, sending out weekly memo's and guidelines each Wednesday since May.
The Georgia High School Association did vote on Monday to push the high school football season back by two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic and recent spike in cases across the state.
The GHSA said they still plan on playing a full 10 game schedule plus a full slate of playoff games. The season will now start on Sept. 4; they were previously scheduled for August 21.
All other fall sports will begin on time.
School districts can still make their own decision on whether or not to allow their schools to play fall sports.
So, too, will their neighboring counties in Florida -- despite the FHSAA saying that fall sports will begin July 27.
First Coast News will continue to update this story as more counties make decisions with regards to when their fall season will begin.
Duval County: Plans still being discussed
St. John's County (UPDATED): Practices can begin August 17, first games August 31 the earliest
Clay County: Plans still being discussed
Columbia County (UPDATED): Practices can begin August 17, first games August 31 the earliest
Nassau County: Planning to begin July 27
Flagler County (UPDATED): Postponed indefinitely
Glynn County: Planning to begin July 27
Camden County: Planning to begin July 27
Pierce County: Planning to begin July 27
Putnam County: Planning to begin July 27
Bradford County: Planning to begin July 27
Alachua County: Planning to begin July 27
Union County: Planning to begin July 27
