PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – WPIAL Executive Director Amy Scheuneman told the Fan Morning Show on Tuesday they are moving forward with local high school sports.
"Currently there are no changes to the start of Winter sports," Scheuneman said. "Schools will always have the decision to make their own changes if they feel its in the best interest of their school district or their student-athletes. As far as the PIAA and the WPIAL is concerned, sports can begin, practice can begin on Friday the 20th."
This as Philadelphia this week banned all indoor sports until January 1.
Scheuneman says they need to follow the rules of social distancing with sports using the rule of a 20% maximum in their gyms and they are even attempting to do some events virtually, mentioning rifle comparing scores and competing at their home space.
She also said they count on the schools to make decisions based on local rules and the facilities they have.
"I think we safely got through the fall season because everybody did what they were supposed to do," Scheuneman said. "We are very appreciative because we wouldn't be where we were with Fall sports if everybody wasn't doing their individual part."
Taking over for the retired Tim O'Malley on July 1, Scheuneman has had quite a first few months and said on 93.7 The Fan that it's not just the athletes that need to follow the rules, but all of those around them.
"Moving into Winter sports we have had this uptick in cases and we've identified them and a lot of them are through social events," Scheuneman said. "We cannot stop with our safety protocols and stressing to both the student-athletes and families that if they want sports to continue they are going to have to make the sacrifices to keep themselves isolated and safe so they are not spreading that to the student-athletes themselves."
She said superintendents could make the biggest change to policy, not the PIAA.
Currently the state high school athletic association does not mandate testing within sports. Their only rule is if there is a positive test, they must shut down for 14 days. For exposure, schools would follow the recommendations of the PA Department of Health.
Scheuneman said, again, they aren't going to make blanket statements for schools to follow in the WPIAL, rather leave it up to the districts to decide.
