Georgia Tech spring practice delayed through week

December 10, 2020 Atlanta - Georgia Tech's quarterback Jeff Sims (10) celebrates with teammates after he scored a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta on Thursday, December 10, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

December 10, 2020 Atlanta - Georgia Tech's quarterback Jeff Sims (10) celebrates with teammates after he scored a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta on Thursday, December 10, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Georgia Tech’s spring practice will not begin until next week at the earliest. The Yellow Jackets were to start Tuesday, but their plans were delayed because of multiple positive tests for COVID-19.

Coach Geoff Collins also had practices scheduled for Thursday and Saturday, but one significant reason for waiting is an NCAA rule that limits teams to a 34-day window once practice begins. Collins likely is trying to ensure players’ health before beginning rather than be at a greater risk of a pause once the 34-day clock starts running. Starting later also would reduce the amount of practice time that players who tested positive would have to miss while in quarantine.

The spring game remains scheduled for April 23. It’s possible that the team could continue practicing after the spring game if it hasn’t conducted all of its 15 allotted practices by that point.