Local school boards have decided that all sports at Essex County secondary schools will go ahead with the return this fall, with the exception of football.
The region's school boards announced the decision Thursday, saying the main reason for the decision has to do with helmet safety.
"This decision was not made lightly but was made in the best interest of the safety of our students, which is our top priority," a statement from the boards said.
According to the statement, the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association recommends that football helmets are required to be certified by the manufacturer on an annual basis in order to meet standards of safe play. That process can take up to six weeks or more.
"After that certification, all teams would be required to hold 10 practices with full pads before the season could begin," read the statement. "Given the amount of time that would be required to certify helmets, certify coaches, and train student-athletes so that they could play safely, there is simply not enough time in the fall to allow for a football season to safely proceed."
Board officials say there has been discussion around moving the football season into the spring, but that would interfere with other sports.
"We have determined that given all of the factors listed above, there is no way for our school boards to allow high school football to safely proceed this year."
