EAST LANSING — After weeks of waiting, the Michigan High School Athletic Association announced Friday that fall sports will proceed as planned.

The MHSAA decided during a teleconference Wednesday to leave sports in their traditional seasons as well as outlining contingencies for mitigating risk to the public.

Football practice is set to begin Aug. 10, with all other sports starting Aug. 12.

If needed, the plan has the option to delay the start of different sports depending on the threat level of Covid-19.

One step further, has lower-risk fall sports proceeding but postponing higher risk sports until later in the school year.

Suspension of any sports will see an attempt to move them into a different slot later in the year. The re-arrangement would have winter sports beginning in November, and the suspended sports concluding during the spring.

A switch between Fall and Spring sports was considered but discarded by the MHSAA due to “traditional Spring sports — girls’ soccer and girls’ and boys’ lacrosse — carry(ing) similar risk, negating the value of making that full season switch.”

Plans are contingent on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic and any executive orders by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The council will reconvene July 29 to further discuss plans.

“Our student-athletes just want to play, and we’ve gone far too long without them playing. But doing so safely, of course, remains the priority,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said in a press release. “Our plan moving forward is fall in the fall, starting on time. We’re excited to continue moving forward to bring back sports safely. It’s important for keeping students in our schools and keeping students in our sports programs.

“We remain grateful to the Governor for the opportunity to build the schedule and policies for returning sports to schools. We will continue to support her directives and those of the state and local health departments as we work to create the safest environment for all involved in our activities.”