High school football for the holidays — it’s coming.
The Hawaii High School Athletic Association announced on Friday that its executive board, representing the state’s five leagues, voted unanimously to have a full sports calendar. That means fall sports, including football, will play out a normal schedule once the postponed start date of Sept. 24 arrives.
The hope is that all student-athletes will be vaccinated by then.
“It is a testament to our members to be able to agree to a calendar on such short notice. Furthermore, the calendar preserves league and state championships, which gives student-athletes something that has been missing since February 2020,” HHSAA Executive Director Chris Chun said in a press release. “It shows the Department of Education, Department of Health, and our state and county leaders that there is a plan in place once all schools can resume (sports) on Sept. 24.”
In all, football season will end roughly six weeks later than its usual Thanksgiving week finale. Football season will extend through December and into January with state tournament play booked for the weeks of Dec. 27-Jan. 2 and Jan. 3-9.
Winter sports are slated to finish approximately four weeks later than usual. Spring sports will begin in late February with state tournaments in early May — the normal time frame and dates of pre-pandemic years.
The sports calendar, which began with football on July 19 before being postponed on Aug. 4, restarts on Sept. 27 for all fall sports.
Girls volleyball, air riflery, bowling and cross country are scheduled to have state championships during the week of Dec. 6-10. The state competitive cheerleading championships are slated for the week of Dec. 13-19.
Winter and baseball seasons also appear to be in full with no abbreviated time frames on the sports calendar, which was sent to media on spreadsheet form. Girls basketball will officially begin the week of Nov. 29-Dec. 5. Girls soccer will start on the week of Dec. 6-10. Canoe paddling, swimming and diving, boys basketball, boys soccer and wrestling are slotted for the week of Dec. 13-19.
The effect of vaccinations has helped set the course for the 2021-22 sports calendar, even as the seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases has soared to 729 per day statewide.
Sports start dates and state tournaments
Revised by HHSAA, Friday.
Fall
Girls volleyball: Sept. 27, end Dec. 10
Cross country: Sept. 27, end Dec. 10
Air riflery: Sept. 27, end Dec. 10
Bowling: Sept. 27, end Dec. 10
Cheerleading: Sept. 27, end Dec. 19
Football: Sept. 27, end Jan. 9
Winter
Girls basketball: Nov. 29, end Feb. 19
Girls soccer: Dec. 6, end Feb. 27
Canoe paddling: Dec. 13, end March 6
Swimming and diving: Dec. 13, end March 6
Boys basketball: Dec. 13, end March 6
Boys soccer: Dec. 13, end March 6
Wrestling: Dec. 13, end March 13
Spring
Girls water polo: Feb. 21, end May 8
Tennis: Feb. 21, end May 8
Judo: Feb. 21, end May 8
Boys volleyball: Feb. 21, end May 8
Girls golf: Feb. 21, end May 8
Boys golf: Feb. 21, end May 8
Track and field: Feb. 21, end May 15
Softball: Feb. 21, end May 15
Baseball: Feb. 21, end May 15
