AUGUSTA — The Maine Principals’ Association has announced its plans for the shortened fall sports seasons. 

The maximum number of regular season games for soccer and field hockey have been reduced to 10 games, from an original slate of 14. There is no minimum amount of games a team most complete this season. 

Schools with football programs will have seven weeks to complete a maximum of six regular season games. Football programs traditionally play an eight game slate. 

The cross country and golf maximum number of contests have not been revised. 

The MPA is urging its member schools to adopt schedules with an emphasis on regional scheduling to reduce the amount of travel across the state. 

Fall sports at the high school level across the state were scheduled to start Aug. 17, though the MPA Interscholastic Management Committee voted earlier this month to push the start of Maine’s fall high school sports season back.

With the vote, the fall season will now begin Tuesday, Sept. 8 with preseason contests. The regular season will start Friday, Sept. 18. 

The delayed start to the season comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic with many other states across the nation making similar decisions.

Schools will be allowed to alter their schedules after the season begins, if needed, if opponents are impacted by the pandemic.