The Georgia High School Athletic Association (GHSA)’s Executive Director Robin Hines said in an update midweek that the Sept. 4 start to football is still on track for the time being based on a decision by the Board of Trustees.

An update to member schools stated that the plan is to move forward with the opening of the football season as it stands, but “However, it is possible that the start date of September 4 could change based on COVID-19 data.”

The GHSA stated in the update that it will depend on the numbers across the state of cases over the next two weeks, which have been increasing at a greater rate in Polk County since July 1 and followed the same trend statewide.

Cedartown High School has already had to push back the start date of football after calling off the Carrollton game on Sept. 4 due to COVID-19 cases that were reported before the start of school, but due to quarantine and the acclimation period for the players who tested positive they won’t be back for the opening date and available play.

The GHSA cited “contingency plans to cover all start and restart scenarios.”

“Our goal cointunes to be to provide sports and activities for our students as soon as possible with safety being the top priority,” the statement read in today’s update.

However, the GHSA did provide this caveat at the end “there is always a possibility of postponement based on the data and advice from our medical professionals.”