(WWJ) The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has announced winter sports are slated to start on time, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was approved during a meeting of the Representative Council of the MHSAA on Thursday. The council also approved a series of guidelines to quell the spread of the virus.
“The Council believes it is safer to begin Winter practices on time, and keep athletes in school programs where safety precautions are always in effect,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said in a release. “With the vastly different circumstances faced by schools in different regions all over the state, an on-time start still allows schools to decide when they feel most comfortable beginning activity – and allows all of them to slowly ramp up their frequency of activity and numbers of spectators attending competitions.”
However, Uyl said the COVID-19 numbers are worrisome.
"Our statewide COVID-19 numbers have to get better. In order for our schools to continue playing sports this winter, and in order for fans to be there to cheer them on, we must continue working to slow down this virus.”
Winter sports include basketball, bowling, cheerleading, gymnastics, skiing, swimming, diving, and wrestling.
Scrimmages will not be allowed for winter sports, to avoid the mixing of communities outside official competitions. A maximum of four schools/teams will be allowed to participate in competitive cheer, gymnastics, swimming & diving and wrestling.
Basketball and hockey will not be subject to school team limits, because only two teams can play each other at the same time.
Bowling and skiing will only allow a maximum of 72 competitors at each competition. Host sites are expected to impose “strict” capacity limits for spectators per game.
All athletes—with the exception of swimmers and divers, skiers, gymnasts, and bowlers—are required to wear a mask during the match/game. The excepted sports either allow for social distancing or would be dangerous if a mask were worn in the water.
All spectators must wear a mask, according to the MHSAA guidelines. More specific guidelines for each sport will be released early next week.
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The MHSAA originally announced it would move football to spring, with hope of an effective vaccine by then, because state health experts identified the sport as “high-risk” because of the level of contact.
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However, it reversed course and reinstated football in the fall after Governor Gretchen Whitmer lifted an Executive Order that temporarily prohibited youth sports. Although, Whitmer still recommended forgoing football and soccer.
Winter sports traditionally begin practice during the first three weeks of November, with competitions kicking off mid-month or early December.