EAST LANSING — The fall 2020 football season was reinstated today by the Michigan High School Athletic Association after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lifted restrictions that had prohibited play.

The MHSAA today voted to allow for a shortened season this fall, reversing its Aug. 14 decision to postpone football to spring 2021.

Football teams previously had been allowed to practice in helmets during the traditional first week of practice, which began Aug. 10, and then during council-approved offseason “contact” days that started Aug. 24.

With the fall season back in play, football teams must cease all activity until Tuesday, Sept. 8, then practice two days in helmets and shoulder pads before adding full pads Thursday, Sept. 10.

They may begin regular-season games Sept. 18, and will play six games beginning with their originally scheduled Week 4 contests.

All 11- and eight-player football teams will qualify for the playoffs during this fall’s shortened season, and then advance through their usual postseason progression, with eight-player finals the weekend of Nov. 27-28 and 11-player finals the weekend of Dec. 4-5.

All other fall 2020 tournaments will be conducted as previously scheduled.

Whitmer’s executive order also allows for an immediate start of competition statewide for boys soccer. In addition, it sets spectator limits of two per participant for outdoor and indoor events for areas of the state in Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan.

Statewide football — and volleyball, soccer and swimming and diving in regions 1 through 5 plus 7 — had been restricted as part of an executive order that kept gyms and pools closed and required social distancing in competition to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in areas under Phase 4 of the Safe Start plan.

Schools in Regions 6 and 8 have been able to play volleyball, soccer and swim because those regions had been under fewer COVID-19 restrictions while in Phase 5 of the reopening process.

Schools are not required to play any of those sports this fall, and may postpone until the spring. However, the MHSAA will conduct its postseason events in those four sports only for the fall 2020 season.

The MHSAA’s council Aug. 20 had authorized the start of volleyball, soccer and swim statewide, pending Whitmer’s office allowing those activities in the various regions.

“We are thankful for the opportunity for kids to get back on the field in all fall sports, and we appreciate Governor Whitmer providing that opportunity with Executive Order 176 ,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “We share the governor’s priorities of putting health and safety first, and the COVID-19 guidance and protocols designed by the MHSAA at her request have led to the safe starts in all sports across the state.”

Uyl pointed out 33 other states now have all fall sports, adding “and the MHSAA and its member schools are committed to doing this as safely as possible. We are ready to again provide those experiences to students and communities that have hoped for a return of some normalcy.”