Make it three Alabama counties that have decided not to play athletics in the fall.

Barbour County is shutting down — not only fall sports — but sports for the entire year, according to a story in the Dothan Eagle.

“We have cancelled the season and we will have not have athletics for the 2020-2021 school year,” Barbour County athletic director Joe Briggs told the newspaper.

Biggs said the shutdown included all sports for the year.

“It is about keeping people safe first,” football coach Chad Martin told the newspaper. “We all love football and we all want to get out there, play and do everything we can to do that, but you have to think not only of player safety, but if one of them catches it and they are asymptomatic they can bring it home and some of them live with grandparents.

“I see it from that perspective. It is hurts to not be able to play, especially when I felt we were getting a lot better. It hurts not to play, but at the same time, you really and truly have to put safety first and the players’ and their families’ livelihood first.”

The Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Central Board last week approved an on-time return to sports and released a “best practices” guidelines to follow. However, AHSAA executive director Steve Savarese and state superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey have said individual counties and districts would need to make the choices that are best for them.

Three high schools have been affected by the decisions of the past two days. Greene County and Sumter Central on Monday. Barbour County on Tuesday. The Barbour County football team was scheduled to play in Class 1A, Region 4 along with Autaugaville, Billingsley, Loachapoka, Maplesville, Notasulga and Verbena.

Barbour County’s basketball team played for the Class 2A state title earlier this year, losing in dramatic fashion to Mr. Basketball J.D. Davison and Calhoun.

The Jaguars, who went 0-10 last year, were scheduled to open against Russell County on Aug. 28. They were outscored 664-120 a year ago.

Story updated to include information from the Dothan Eagle.