The Georgia High School Association announced last week that group-size restrictions for fall sports would be lifted and locker rooms and showers could now be used for football, provided they were sanitized before and after use.

The lifting of restrictions comes as football practice and the acclimatization period begins Monday, July 27. Other fall sports can begin their practices on Saturday, Aug. 1, the same day football pads will be allowed at practice.

“We’re doing our best to stay on schedule and we’ve worked through a slow, measured process to move forward as safely as we possibly can,” Robin Hines, Executive Director of the GHSA, said in a phone interview. “It’s hard to have football practice if you don’t allow the team out there to practice. When you’re outside, it’s certainly easier to socially distance whenever possible.”

The mandate provides that players be able to socially distance within the locker room and highly recommends the use of face masks.