Fall practices are slated to begin Aug. 10 for football and Aug. 12 for the rest of the sports.

On Friday, the MHSAA announced it wants high school sports to return in the fall as traditionally scheduled. 

But the state of Michigan’s governing body of sports will have contingency plans in place should another COVID-19 outbreak postpone a specific sports season. 

Here are the answers to five questions you might have about the return of MHSAA sports:

When can sports teams begin practicing for the fall season? 

All fall sports — volleyball, boys and girls cross country, girls golf, girls swimming and diving, boys soccer and boys and girls lacrosse — will start practicing on Aug. 12 with the exception of football, which will begin on Aug. 10. 

What happens if sports are considered too high-risk to be played in the fall? 

Should it be too risky for fall sports to be played, the MHSAA will use a contingency plan that delays the season until later in the school year. However, doing so will require both boys and girls basketball to begin in November so that fall sports can see their seasons conclude in the spring of 2021. The MHSAA would also look at extending spring sports into July if needed. 

What needs to happen for fall sports to begin on time? 

The return of fall sports will be determined by where each of the state’s regions falls on Gov. Whitmer’s Michigan Safe State Plan. For example, regions in Phase 4 or worse will be unable to host indoor practices and games. 

How will the MHSAA monitor the safety of the student-athletes?

The MHSAA is currently assembling COVID-19-related policies and guidelines that each school must follow for it to host sports practices and games. A current policy is in place for summer training activities that includes players taking mandatory temperature and wellness checks before being allowed onto a practice field. Its fall policy will be expanded. 

When will the MHSAA have another update on the status of fall sports?

The MHSAA Representative Council, a 19-member legislative body, will meet again on July 29 to assess how the state is in regard to the Safe Start Plan, and then it’ll provide another update shortly afterward. 

Brandon Folsom is the sports reporter at the Times Herald. Do you have a story idea? Email him at bfolsom@gannett.com. Click here to follow him on Twitter.