With chants of “Let us play, let us play,” more than 100 protesters gathered in Frankfort, Kentucky on Monday morning at the state capital to demand high school sports be allowed to play soon. The protesters are hoping to influence Gov. Andy Beshear’s decision following a vote last week by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control.

That group voted Thursday to keep the plan it approved July 28, with the fall sports of cross country, field hockey, football, soccer and volleyball beginning practices Monday, the Courier-Journal reported.

Regular-season games in those sports will begin Sept. 7, with the exception of football starting Sept. 11. KHSAA commissioner Julian Tackett called the decision “a major, major challenge for us.”

“There is absolutely no doubt this is going to be the most unusual year we’ve been through,” Tackett said.

Tackett warned the plan still must be approved by the governor’s office, the Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky Department of Public Health.