Maryland became the seventh state to switch football from fall to the winter or spring of 2021. The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) announced Monday morning that football along with all its fall and winter sports will be moved to a hybrid two-semester plan starting next year.
The exact plan for how it will fit into the two semesters is still being worked on. Maryland joins California, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, Virginia and Washington along with the District of Columbia in moving its fall season to the New Year due to coronavirus pandemic concerns.
According to a MPSSAA news release, the new plan will be made available in the next couple of weeks.
"This decision comes in light of the recent announcements of local school systems to begin education virtually and provides each school system with options for the gradual increase of student engagement for the physical and social-emotional health of students," part of the
release stated.
Of the remaining 43 states, 38 have announced plans to keep fall sports in the fall, though 10 of those will push back those seasons by weeks.
Dunbar and Cambridge-South Dorchester battle in last year's Class 1A semifinals.
Photo by John Bowers
