WEST LEBANON — Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s executive order for a uniform statewide Sept. 8 start to school is helping high school athletic directors envision fall sports, but questions remain — some of which could be answered within the next week.

Scott’s announcement on Tuesday forced the Vermont Principals Association to push back the start of fall athletics for the second time this month. On July 2, the VPA dropped its original Aug. 10 preseason start in favor of the first day of school, regardless of any school’s start date.

The VPA has been taking its cues from the Vermont Agency of Education and its three-step approach to opening schools this fall, VPA associate executive director Bob Johnson said on Wednesday morning. Johnson expects more athletics-specific information from the state either Friday or early next week, at which point VPA sports committees will be able to determine what can be played this fall, and how.

“It pushes everything back two weeks, but to be very honest, it’s important to consider what step we come at in the fall,” Johnson said. “If we come in at step II, which is expected, the question becomes how quickly we move to step III. If we move to step III, (games) will be within a week; we’ll only be a week behind to what our initial guess was. If we’re in step II for a couple of weeks, we’ll be significantly behind.”

The agency’s June 17 guideline document describes step II as schools offering “in-person instruction with enhanced physical distancing measures and for children who live in the local geographic area only.” Step III opens “attendance to those from limited transmission areas (other Step III areas) only.” Johnson said the latter stage opens the possibility for interscholastic athletic competition.

Hartford High athletic director Jeff Moreno and Thetford Academy AD Blendon Salls indicated nothing goes forward without students on campus at least part of the week.

“I’m truly just trying to stick in between the navigational buoys right now,” Moreno said. “I’m not getting too excited for good news and not too upset for bad news. … I’m trying to keep it level, keep our noses above water with coaches and kids and seeing what the next day brings. Until we’re told no (to fall sports), I’m going to assume yes.”

Most Upper Valley high schools, if not all of them, are in the midst of summer training programs. The level of activity varies: Sports with no or limited contact, such as baseball, soccer and lacrosse, are able to do more right now than heavy-contact games such as football or basketball.

Even with that, Salls said athletes will still need acclimation time even if they’re engaging in summer work.

“The school start date has never been the start of athletics,” Salls pointed out. “It’s more waiting still to hear when we start athletics officially. That gives you a kind of range where you can think.”

Johnson said the VPA won’t be relaxing preseason practice rules even with a Sept. 8 school start. The association requires athletes to have 10 practices before they can begin playing games.

Johnson remains optimistic for a fall season, even if “it’s one of those things that we’re not exactly certain yet.”

“The vibe I’ve been getting is there will be some version of at least some sports,” Moreno said. “But the universal pushback of school was a little unexpected, especially at this stage of the game.”

Greg Fennell can be reached at gfennell@vnews.com or 603-727-3226.