In a high school football year that has been anything but normal, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced football teams, school administrators, and the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) to adapt ways to both protect the health and safety of all concerned while simultaneously attempting to insure fair play and competition. The 2020 high school football season can be described as one that no one has ever seen, nor possibly ever will see again in their lifetimes.
The AAA has released a statement that outlines how playoff teams in football will be determined if certain situations exist due to the cancellation of games due to COVID reasons. The policy only pertains to football conferences who have had a conference school cancel a conference game due to COVID reasons. Non-conference cancellations do not apply to this policy. Resident Press has obtained a copy of the AAA memo.
The AAA has ruled that, “If any team in a classification is NOT able to complete their conference schedule due to COVID-19, all teams in that classification will qualify for the playoffs with an option to opt-out of the playoffs.” For example, in the 3A-1 conference, Hackett and Lincoln were not able to play last Friday due to COVID reasons. According to this memo from the AAA, all teams in that conference are now eligible if Lincoln and Hackett are unable to make-up the game this season.
The policy appears to be an effort by the AAA to insure that all teams have a chance to qualify for the state playoffs if they have been impacted by circumstances beyond their control; in this case, the COVID virus.
The AAA’s policy also outlines the succession of tie-breakers that are now in place for determining playoff seedings. In order, they include: 1) total number of conference wins, 2) head to head results, 3) average number of tie-breaking points, and 4) coin toss. The policy goes on to describe how lower-seeded teams will be bracketed in the playoffs.
Superintendents of schools in a conference affected by the virus and who have not been able to complete their conference schedules have until 5 p.m. on Monday, October 26, to opt out of the playoffs. For example, if a school is winless on the season and they prefer not to play in the state playoffs, that school’s superintendent can notify the AAA that they choose not to play in the tournament. Conversely, a school that perhaps would have just missed qualifying for the playoffs may elect to take advantage of this year’s exception and play in the state playoffs. Each head football coach and their administration will have to make this call.
It should be noted that the “all teams qualify” exception only pertains to football conferences who have had a team or teams not able to complete their conference schedule. For example, the 3A-4 conference that includes Booneville, Paris, Atkins, Little Rock Baptist Prep, Mayflower, Perryville, Two Rivers, and Danville does not qualify at this point for exemption. No teams in this conference have yet to miss a conference game due to COVID reasons. But the AAA’s policy will have a significant effect on a week-by-week basis as the season continues into its second half.
Resident Press will continue to follow this and other important stories that impact high school football in the River Valley and across Arkansas. Stay with Resident Press for the most complete coverage of high school football.
