**Description:**

Our initiative, HerGoal DE, calls for the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) to move the girls' high school soccer season from spring to fall. This change will benefit student-athletes, enhance their experience, and align better with academic schedules. 

**Current Issues:**

1. **Enhanced Recruitment and Visibility:** Shifting the season could provide increased opportunities for student-athletes to showcase their talents during a time when there are big club season tournaments and leagues, potentially leading to more recruitment opportunities. Since Delaware high school players are in their season during the spring, they tend to miss out on these big opportunities to showcase themselves and get scouted/recruited. The NCAA college women's soccer season is in the fall, which means that most of the college coaches are using the springtime to recruit, which again misaligns with the Delaware girls' club season.

2. **Regional Correspondance:** Most states in the east region have their high school season in the fall instead of spring, including the neighboring states (Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania). This raises issues during club season for Delaware girls because when the athletes that play club soccer have their club season, there are no teams in other states to play against, limiting their choices and negatively impacting the club season.

3. **Improved Scheduling:** Fall sports seasons typically face fewer scheduling conflicts with major academic events such as finals, the SATs, and AP exams. This could lead to a less stressful environment/season for the players.

4. **Weather Conditions:** The spring season often brings unpredictable weather, leading to frequent cancellations and rescheduled games. By shifting to the fall, athletes will benefit from more stable and predictable weather conditions, allowing for a smoother and more consistent season.

**Our Request:**

We respectfully request the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association to review and consider this proposal to move the girls' high school sports season from spring to fall. By making this change, we believe we can enhance student-athletes' overall experience.

**Sign the petition** to support this important change and advocate for the well-being and success of our student-athletes!