LANSING, Mich. (WJRT) – Michigan high schools got the go-ahead Thursday to continue with their fall sports, except for football.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association approved the start of competition for girls volleyball, boys soccer and girls swimming and diving in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula on Friday. Practices will be allowed to continue in the rest of the state with no competitions yet.

Cross country, golf and tennis will be allowed to continue practices and competition at high schools across Michigan.

The northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula are at Phase 5 of the MI Safe Start plan, which has looser restrictions on gatherings. The rest of Michigan is at Phase 4, which has tighter restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings.

The MHSAA is awaiting further orders from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on opening indoor athletic facilities and loosening outdoor gathering restrictions before beginning competitions in most of the Lower Peninsula.

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