A plan for a high school sports calendar was set in motion this week and it includes moving football to late February.

In a joint announcement Tuesday evening, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released its guidance for a sports schedule for the 2020-21 school year.

The plan will be presented to the MIAA’s Board of Directors Wednesday morning. The BOD may or may not vote on the plan.

The plan follows the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’s (EEA) youth and amateur sports guidelines that were released last week.

“Sports can be an important part of a well-rounded educational experience, even during the current public health crisis. Notwithstanding the risks associated with COVID-19, organized physical activity should be encouraged, within clear health and safety parameters,” the MIAA and DESE said in a statement.

All fall sports with the exception of football can start Sept. 18, provided they meet EEA guidelines. Football, because it is considered a high risk sport by the EEA, would slide in between the winter and spring seasons. Other high risk sports like competitive cheerleading and unified basketball, as well as fall sports that do not rise to level 3 would be played during a “floating season” held sometime between the winter and spring seasons.

High risk sports can use the fall season to practice as long as they follow the EEA’s cohort guidelines.

Low risk fall high school sports as defined by the EEA are: golf, gymnastics and cross country. Moderate risk sports are: volleyball, field hockey and soccer.

The EEA breaks down activities into four levels:

Level 1: Individual or socially distanced group activities.

Level 2: Competitive practices.

Level 3: Competitions.

Level 4: Tournaments (outdoor only).

Low-risk sports can participate in all four levels. Moderate and high risk sports can participate in level 1 as traditionally played, but in order to reach level 2 and 3, those sports need to meet the EEA’s minimum mandatory standards for modification.

The plan could change as the fall season nears.

“Guidance from EEA will be re-issued prior to the start of each season, based on public health data, testing availability, and any new information, and MIAA will make final decisions for each season following that updated guidance,” the statement read.

High risk sports in other seasons like hockey, basketball, wrestling and boys lacrosse, would be evaluated at a later time.

Sports participation for remote learners would be based on the Department of Public Health’s data map. The plan calls for no sports for school districts that are designated “red” by the DPH. These schools would be allowed to compete during the floating season. Only Holyoke and Granby are currently listed as “red” communities in western Massachusetts..

Districts that are designated yellow, green or white could either delay their season to the floating season or offer sports if they receive approval by their respective school committee.

The MIAA will release more information on when practices and competitions can start. It will also develop a timeline for looking at data. A school’s eligibility for sports based on its color-coded designation can be subject to change.

“The health and safety of our school communities must remain the top priority, and we recognize that any plans for athletic opportunities must adapt to evolving public health metrics,” the joint announcement read.

The plan was developed by the MIAA’s COVID-19 Task Force and presented to DESE Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley in a meeting on Monday.

The MIAA COVID-19 Task Force is co-chaired by St. John’s Prep Principal Keith Crowley and Duxbury Athletic Director Thom Holdgate. Chicopee High School Principal Carolyn Kruser and Wahconah Athletic Director Jared Shannon are the western Massachusetts representatives on the task force.

Mike Moran can be reached at mmoran@gazettenet.com. Follow on Twitter @mikemoranDHG.