Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Marty Pollio will recommend a phased-in approach for the start of fall sports during Monday’s district board meeting.

The plan is one of three options for the board, including following the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s plan to start practices Monday or canceling fall sports.

Details of the phased-in approach include:

• Practices for the low-contact sports of cross country and field hockey would start Tuesday, with competition beginning Sept. 8. Practices for the high-contact sports of soccer and volleyball would start Sept. 7, with competition beginning Sept. 14.
• The plan for football would include helmet only conditioning Tuesday-Friday; helmet and shoulder pads only Aug. 31-Sept. 3; full-gear practices Sept. 7-17; scrimmages among JCPS teams only Sept. 12; first games on Sept. 18.
• Sports would be limited to two levels (varsity and freshman/sophomore) instead of three.
• Spectators will be limited based on the KHSAA “Healthy at Sports” document, which is scheduled to be released this week.

“One of the goals of the district is to begin the high school fall athletics program with low-contact sports and to phase in the higher-contact sports,” the proposal says. “JCPS reserves the right, based on current data, to suspend practices, games, schools or entire sports from participation based on the spread of the virus.”

The KHSAA plan approved Thursday calls for practices in all fall sports to begin Monday, with competition beginning Sept. 7 for cross country, field hockey, soccer and volleyball and Sept. 11 for football.

Previously: KHSAA votes to begin competition Sept. 7, but Beshear has doubts

Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday afternoon he was surprised by the KHSAA’s plan and would take the weekend to decide whether to give the KHSAA advice, make a recommendation “or something more than that.”

Monday’s JCPS board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be livestreamed at youtube.com/channel/UCJCC8xo7s9vxfFZiV5ZoocQ. 

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/jasonf.