AKRON, Ohio — Summit County Public Health is advising schools do not allow competitive sports to happen until Oct. 1.

In a memo obtained Friday night by cleveland.com, it also recommends shortening seasons for moderate- and high-risk sports, which includes football, field hockey, soccer and volleyball.

The recommendations come on the same day in which the Cleveland Metropolitan School District announced a plan for remote learning during the first nine weeks of the school year, and that it will not allow sports to happen during that time.

Summit County is not the first board of health to make such a recommendation.

The Fairfield County Board of Health, which is east of Columbus, recommended its schools do not conduct fall sports in a report obtained by the Lancaster Eagle Gazette.

Summit County Public Health stated that it issued guidelines at the request of “many school districts.”

“SCPH has reviewed the OHSAA guidance and believes that it provides practical recommendations to keep students, coaches, officials and spectators safe,” according to Friday’s memo. “However, COVID-19 contact sports make it very difficult to maintain six feet of social distance or wear masks, the most effective strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Once sports are permitted, SCPH also recommends limiting spectators to just two per athlete or consider eliminating all spectators.

A copy of the release can be viewed below:

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com).