Churchill High School football players work out on the field Wednesday, the same day Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced new guidance for outdoor contact sports, opening the door for the return of tackle football.

Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday that the Oregon Health Authority is revising its guidance for outdoor sports as well as its exemption for college sports.

In other words, there is now a path for high school football to return to the field, as well as other prep sports and lower division college sports.

Beginning this week, outdoor contact sports can resume with teams asked to follow the COVID-19 health and safety protocols already put in place by their respective county. 

Teams in low or moderate risk counties are clear to play right away. Teams in high-risk or extreme-risk counties will have to “opt in” to the football season by adding protocols such as on-site testing for symptomatic individuals, contact-tracing information, isolation and quarantine procedures, and a waiver identifying health and safety risks.