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University of Texas at Austin
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2020-2021 Athletics Updates

Remote Learning

Students participating in remote learning offered by their school district, whether synchronous or asynchronous (as defined by TEA), may participate in UIL activities if they meet all other UIL eligibility requirements. Students must be enrolled in remote learning options through the school the student will represent. Schools may develop local policies with additional requirements for participation. You can find more information related to the full-time student rule in Section 406 UIL Constitution and Contest Rules.

Academic Eligibility-Credit Requirements

For the 2020-2021 school year, UIL eligibility requirements for the first six weeks of school have been modified to allow a student to be eligible for the first six weeks if they accumulated at least two and a half credits since the start of the 2019-2020 school year. Schools may impose additional requirements.  https://www.uiltexas.org/covid-19-information

District Executive Committee (DEC) Concerns and Game Schedules

  • Schools who cannot play non-district games for COVID-19 related reasons will not be required to forfeit those non-district games. These games will not be reflected in season records.
  • The DEC should meet to confirm Fall Sport (FB, VB, Team Tennis, XC) schedules, playoff qualifiers, and safety protocols concerning the 2020-2021 school year.
  • The DEC shall arrange a schedule to determine district representatives prior to the posted district certification date.
  • The DEC shall determine the place and/or time of district games in case of disagreement between two schools for both the regular season, games postponed due to weather, or disruptions in scheduled games due to COVID-19.  The DEC should strongly consider schedules that allow for disruptions and for certifying district representatives in the event games cannot be made up. The DEC should develop policies to address games that cannot be played for reasons related to COVID-19 before district play begins.
  • The DEC may consider a district schedule that would allow district play to be completed prior to the District Certification Deadline.  This consideration may include playing district contests in place of non-district games and/or building in open dates to account for season disruptions.
  • The DEC should prepare policies to address tie-breakers as well as certifying the district representatives in the event of incomplete district seasons.

Practice Regulations

Summer Activities

*Conference 1A-4A

  • Schools may allow students to continue strength and conditioning and sport specific instruction until the first day of instruction, whether in-person or remote, or the first day of in-season activities, whichever is earlier. Students who have not started in-season activities may continue summer workouts until the first day of instruction.

  • Remote learning/coaching due to local school suspension: Schools should consider providing students guidance for working out at home or remotely. This can include virtual workouts, emailed or otherwise electronically delivered workout instructions, or any delivery model approved by the local school district.
    • Remote learning/coaching does not count towards the strength and conditioning requirement to begin volleyball or football on July 20.

*Conference 5A-6A

  • For football and volleyball, schools may allow students to continue strength and conditioning and sport specific instruction through September 4, 2020, whether or not the instructional school year has started.

  • For activities other than football and volleyball, students who have not started in-season activities may continue summer workouts until the first day of instruction.

  • Beginning August 3, the time for sport specific activities will increase from sixty minutes per day to two hours per day.

  • If the school year begins prior to September 7, 2020, students may continue to engage in sport specific instruction for two hours per day. The time in the athletic period counts as part of that two hour total.

  • Remote learning/coaching due to local school suspension: Schools should consider providing students guidance for working out at home or remotely. This can include virtual workouts, emailed or otherwise electronically delivered workout instructions, or any delivery model approved by the local school district.
    • Remote learning/coaching does not count towards the strength and conditioning requirement to begin volleyball or football on August 24.

Offseason Activities During the School Year

  • Athletics periods may not exceed 60 minutes per day, or 300 minutes per week. Local school policy will determine the students who may attend.

  • For the 2020-2021 school year only, students may participate in a maximum of 60 minutes per day of strength and conditioning activities outside the school day. Local school policy will determine the students who may attend. 

  • Remote learning/coaching due to local school suspension:  Schools shall limit remote instruction to a maximum of sixty minutes per day Monday through Friday.

In-Season Activities During the School Year

  • Schools may have athletics periods as described above plus a maximum of eight hours of practice outside the school day during the school week.

  • Schools utilizing an instructional model other than a traditional in-person model may hold the athletics period any time during the day. The athletics period is not required to be held during normal school hours. 

  • Remote learning/coaching due to local school suspension: Schools shall limit instruction for UIL activities to a maximum of eight hours per week per activity, in addition to a maximum of sixty minutes per day Monday through Friday.

Individual Sports

  • Conference 1A-4A Schools
    • Meets / tournaments may begin after August 17, 2020.
  • Conference 5A/6A Schools
    • Meets / tournaments may begin after September 7, 2020.

Junior High Football:

Schools may schedule junior high football anytime during the fall semester within the game limits listed in the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules. All other practice regulations and limitations remain in effect. We will continue to monitor the public health situation and announce any further modifications as they are available.