The official start to mandatory practices will remain the same. Football can begin July 27 with a week of acclimation. Full practices begin Aug. 1 in football and other fall sports.

The surprise Monday was that the decision came immediately and not later in the week. GHSA president Glenn White and other board members had expressed doubt that a vote would take place at the specially called meeting in Thomaston.

But the delay follows a trend that could accelerate with Georgia’s decision.

Georgia’s decision came on a day with another big state, California, decided to move football and its other fall sports to January. South Carolina and North Carolina postponed their fall seasons into September last week.