Collier County is joining most of the rest of Florida and pushing back the start of fall public high school sports practices due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mark Rosenbalm, the county public schools’ coordinator of interscholastic athletics, said via text that fall sports practices will start Aug. 24 “at the earliest.” 

The Florida High School Athletic Association’s Board of Directors had voted in a nearly five-hour meeting Monday night to not change its original calendar for fall sports, meaning schools had the option of starting fall sports practices on the first allowed date, which is July 27.

But many county athletic associations responded Tuesday by announcing they would not start on that date due to rising coronavirus cases.

Lee County has not made a decision, or at least not announced one.

Many counties in the state have had workouts in phases depending on the status of the coronavirus in their counties. Collier and Lee both have done so and were in a phase that allowed indoor workouts, including in weight rooms. 

Rosenbalm’s announcement applies to public schools, so private schools Community School of Naples, Donahue Catholic, First Baptist Academy, St. John Neumann, Seacrest, and Village School don’t fall under that.

Fall sports are football, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls golf, boys and girls swimming, and girls volleyball. Lee County also has boys and girls bowling in the fall.

Football teams were scheduled to play preseason games on Friday, Aug. 14, with the regular season beginning Aug. 21, so that will have to be delayed or canceled. 

The other fall sports were permitted to begin their regular seasons the week of Aug. 17, so that also will be pushed back.

This story will be updated.

Previous coverage: FHSAA fall sports task force recommends to delay start date for practice due to COVID-19

And: FHSAA board will take closer look at Sports Medicine Advisory Committee’s recommendations at next meeting

Opinion: FHSAA board decided behind closed doors to continue as normal