A select group of parents, athletes and coaches have kicked off a campaign to petition the state and the MSHSL to re-instate high school football and volleyball to their rightful place in the fall sports season.

Sara Waytashek — whose son, Brayden, is heading into his senior year — has been spearheading a movement to get the MSHSL to change their minds about moving the two sports from the fall to the spring season. Waytashek organized almost two dozen local supporters to visit the Governor’s mansion in St. Paul last Saturday to proclaim “Let Us Play!” Over 100 supporters of the Facebook group called LetThemPlayMN stood, held their signs and chanted.

The protests have ignited since many of the states surrounding Minnesota have moved forward with their high school football seasons, and Michigan reversed course on its original decision not to play this fall. Even Big 10 Football at the college level has decided to return.

MSHSL associate director Bob Madison said there hasn’t been the spread between football teams that was originally anticipated.

“We’ve put a hold on football in Minnesota while others in the state are participating,” he said. “Our football student-athletes say ‘Why not us?’ “We know that there’s a risk involved. … I think our student-athletes’ best opportunity is in our schools. We have the most controlled environment, we have the best supervision.… I think that is the best place for our student-athletes.”

Board Member Frank White said he has received more than 200 emails from families with opinions about returning to play this fall. He said the information available has not changed enough from when the directors made the decision to postpone the seasons in early August.

“I don’t see anything that would change my opinion about where we stand,” he said. “Yes, I would like to see kids play, but I think we have a bigger issue than that. It’s not just about the kids, but for our communities as a whole.”

According to meeting discussions, the earliest potential dates for fall football games would be Oct. 2, with first practices Sept. 21. Volleyball matches could start Oct. 22, with first practices Oct. 12.

On the heels of this movement, three Minnesota high school athletes and their parents have decided to sue the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) for alleged violations of the league’s bylaws.

The plaintiffs are three unnamed multi-sport athletes from high schools in Rockford, Cold Spring, and Richmond.

The suit is asking a judge for an injunction, claiming schools don’t need to follow the schedule switch for the two sports since the league didn’t follow its own rules.

Representatives from the Minnesota State High School League have not yet commented publicly on the lawsuit.

Rocori football coach James Herberg has also joined the cause, calling on the MSHSL to reconsider its decision to postpone the 2020 football season to the spring. He also attended the rally at the governor’s residence.

The MSHSL held a board of director’s workshop Tuesday to discuss the proposal and that meeting was expected to lead to a special meeting being called for Friday. At that meeting, the board will likely vote on whether or not to have football and volleyball moved back to this fall.

Ahead of Friday’s meeting, the board will continue to collect information from the Department of Health, while also collecting survey answers from member schools.