High school soccer is still months away -- at best, given the uncertainty of the situation.

However, that doesn't mean high school news isn't happening.

Each week, I will compile snippets of high school soccer-related news, often linking out to more complete, locally produced articles. These news updates could include fall season announcements, rule changes, summer team updates, significant coaching moves, and the like. If you feel there is a newsworthy item from your area that I might have overlooked, please email me at sheldon@topdrawersoccer.com.

July 2

RETIRED: John Burke, one of the nation's all-time winningest girls soccer coaches, announced his retirement Thursday, according to an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  

Burke took over the [Catholic Memorial wi-w] (Wis.) program in 1995 and created a dynasty with 25 straight winning seasons, 14 state titles and a 540-59-45 record. His greatest team likely was the 2000 squad that featured eventual US National Team player Leslie Osborne. 

RETURN TO PLAY: In support of the Guidance for Opening Up High School Athletics and Activities, the NFHS Soccer Rules Committee offers this document for state associations to consider whether any possible rules could be altered for the 2020-21 season. The considerations outlined in this document are meant to decrease potential exposure to respiratory droplets by encouraging social distancing, limiting participation in administrative tasks to essential personnel and allowing for appropriate protective equipment.

Return to Competition

1. Soccer Rules Considerations
   • Pregame Conference (5-2-2d)
     • Limit attendees to head referee or center referee, the head coach from each team, and a single captain from each team.
     • Move the location of the pregame conference to center of the field. All individuals maintain a social distance of 6 feet.
     • Suspend handshakes prior to and following the Pregame Conference.
   • Ball Holders (6-1)
     • Encourage social distancing of 6 feet
   • Team Benches (1-5-1)
     • Encourage bench personnel to observe social distancing of 6 feet.
   • Substitution Procedures (3-4)
     • Maintain social distancing of 6 feet between the substitute, officials and/or teammate(s) by encouraging substitutions to occur closer to the center line.
   • Officials Table (6-2; 6-3)
     • Limit to essential personnel which includes home team scorer and timer with a recommend distance of 6 feet between individuals. Visiting team personnel (scorer, statisticians, etc.) are not deemed essential personnel and will need to find an alternative location.

2. Pre and Post Match Ceremony
   1. Suspend the pregame world cup introduction line and send players to their field positions with bench personnel lined up on the touch line (3-6 feet apart) for introductions.
   2. Suspend post game protocol of shaking hands.

3. Soccer Rules Interpretations
   • Rule 4-1 EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES
     • Cloth face coverings are permissible.
     • Gloves are permissible.
   • Rule 4-2 LEGAL UNIFORM
     • Long sleeves are permissible. (4-1-1)
     • Long pants are permissible. (4-1-1)
     • Under garments are permissible but must be of a similar length for the individual and a solid like color for team. (4-1-1d)
   • Rule 5-3 OFFICIALS UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT
     • By state association adoption, long-sleeved shirt/jackets are permissible. (5-1-3)
     • Electronic whistles are permissible (supplies are limited).Cloth face coverings are permissible.
       • Choose a whistle whose tone will carry outside.
       • Fox 40 Mini –
       • Fox 40 Unisex Electronic – 3 tone
       • Ergo-Guard – (3 tone) – orange
       • Windsor – (3 tone) grey
       • Check the market for other choices
     • Cloth face coverings are permissible.
     • Gloves are permissible.

July 1

CANCELED: A Tennessee High School Soccer Coaches Association state tournament slated for mid-July was canceled in connection with the governor's extended executive order, issued a day earlier. Nearly 50 boys high school teams from around Tennessee were scheduled to participate in the event at Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, Tenn. The THSSCA event was created to give teams the chance to play after losing the spring boys soccer season.

June 30

ON HOLD: Tennessee became the first state to officially delay its fall high school sports season Tuesday after the governor extended an executive order that includes limitations and restrictions on contact sports.

The state's COVID-19 State of Emergency has been extended through August 29, which means TSSAA programs cannot have any competition or scrimmages with other schools and cannot have close contact activities during their fundamental practice during that period.

Tennessee fall high school sports, which includes girls soccer, were scheduled to begin practice July 27 with an August 17 first date for competition. 

"We are working with the Governor’s office to ensure that our member schools are in compliance with the executive order in regards to athletic participation and contact sports," TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress said in a press release issued Tuesday.

Tennessee holds girls soccer in the fall and boys soccer in the spring. The COVID-19 outbreak resulted in Tennessee schools closing on the Friday that marked the first week of spring boys soccer play. Most programs did not play a single regular-season game in the spring. The fall delay simply adds to that soccer void in a state where a number of coaches double up -- coaching girls in the fall and boys in the spring. 

SIGN OF THINGS TO COME: The governor of Michigan directly called on Michigan High School Association to consider postponing fall high school sports that cannot adhere to social distancing practices. While the call was directly on football to be moved to the spring, this likely would affect boys soccer, which is played in the fall. Michigan holds girls soccer in the spring.

"I'm calling on the Michigan High School Athletic Association to consider postponing fall sports that have the impossibility of social distancing as a part of them and consider moving those to the spring and running some of the more individualized sports like track and field or tennis or golf to the fall," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. "I anticipate a decision coming from them somewhere around July 20 to 25th is what they've indicated."

June 26

CALLING IT QUITS: Dave Derrico, who guided the girls soccer program at Canon-McMillan (Pa.) to state final appearances in 2014 and 2016 (with a title in 2016), has stepped down, according to an article in the Observer-Reporter. Derrico had an 18-year head coaching mark of 215-121-21. The Big Macs finished No. 13 in the SIMA Fall FAB 50 in 2016 following the program's state title win over Central Bucks South (Pa.).