NORTHEAST, WI- The Green Bay School District and the Appleton School District have both decided to postpone their fall sports seasons.

School leaders announced their decisions on Friday after the WIAA released some new guidelines that allow for a alternate fall sports season to be played in the spring. The vote was 11-0 by the WIAA Board of Control.

“This decision was not easy, but it was necessary for the safety and well-being of our student athletes,” Green Bay superintendent Stephen Murley said in a news release. “Across the state in both high school and college athletics, there is an acknowledgement that mitigation efforts alone are not enough to stop the spread of COVID-19. In addition, there are troubling reports of athletes who have been infected with COVID-19 having ongoing health issues. Athletics are important to our students, their families, coaches, and school communities. By moving fall athletics to the spring when we hope the activity level of COVID-19 will be greatly reduced, athletes will then be able to participate in the sports they love.”

The sports that the Green Bay and Appleton School Districts are moving include football, boys and girls volleyball, boys soccer, boys and girls cross country, girls golf, girls tennis and girls swimming and diving.

Green Bay school officials indicated that they were concerned about the ability to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and also turned to guidelines from health officials.

Appleton schools are expected to share more information as it becomes available.

The Bay Conference and Northeastern Conference Athletic Directors are scheduled to meet on Monday.

Other schools could follow Green Bay and Appleton now that the alternate season was approved.