Swimmers in Michigan are scheduled to return to the water for the fall season, according to a plan released by the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) on Friday, announcing high school sports will return in the fall.
Girls swimming is a fall high school sport in Michigan.
Pennsylvania and Louisiana have followed similar fall sports guidelines as well, preparing to return as scheduled, depending on the spread of COVID-19.
MHSAA schools will begin the 2020-21 school year playing Fall sports as traditionally scheduled, but with contingency concepts for potential interruptions due to the spread of COVID-19.
The MHSAA Representative Council, the Association’s 19-member legislative body, met virtually with MHSAA staff Wednesday (July 15) to discuss a series of ideas for playing sports beginning in August. The Council will meet again July 29 for further discussion. Currently, high school football practices are scheduled to begin Aug. 10, with all other Fall sports to start practice Aug. 12.
“I think in the overall picture of heading back to school the closer we can get to a ‘normal’ fall the better,” said Steve Bowyer, coach at West Ottawa High School in Michigan. “Sports is a big part of that. Safely getting kids back in the pool, in gyms, and on the field is mentally and physically good for everyone. We are still going to have to be flexible and I’m sure make some adjustment along the way but this is good news for high school athletics in Michigan.”
The MHSAA is moving forward with a plan that first calls for all fall sports to be started and played as scheduled. However, if the situation deems it necessary, the start of some or all fall sports practices or competitions could be delayed. The next step in the plan’s progression calls for lower-risk fall sports that can be played to be completed, with higher-risk Fall sports postponed until later in the school year. If all fall sports must be suspended, they will be rescheduled during a reconfigured calendar that would see Winter sports begin in November followed by the conclusion of Fall and Spring seasons potentially extending into July 2021.
Additionally, the Council considered a concept that would swap traditional Fall and Spring sports, but determined that was not a feasible plan. Football, girls volleyball, girls swimming & diving and boys soccer during the fall are considered moderate or high-risk sports because they include athletes in close contact or are played indoors; they were considered the impetus for potentially switching all Fall sports to Spring. But traditional spring sports – girls soccer and girls and boys lacrosse – carry similar risk, negating the value of making that full season switch. Moving only selected Spring sports, like all low-risk to fall, was not considered sound because it would force student-athletes to pick between sports they’ve previously played.
Plans remain reliant on progression by schools and regions across the state according to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Safe Start Plan. Currently two regions are in Phase 5, which allow for limited indoor activity, while the rest are in Phase 4 and unable to host indoor training, practice or competition.
“Our student-athletes just want to play, and we’ve gone far too long without them playing. But doing so safely, of course, remains the priority,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “Our plan moving forward is Fall in the Fall, starting on time. We’re excited to continue moving forward to bring back sports safely. It’s important for keeping students in our schools and keeping students in our sports programs.
“We remain grateful to the Governor for the opportunity to build the schedule and policies for returning sports to schools. We will continue to support her directives and those of the state and local health departments as we work to create the safest environment for all involved in our activities.”
Pennsylvania made their announcement on Thursday.
“It was the consensus of the committee for us to get as many activities of sports in starting with the fall and heat acclimatization starting on Aug. 10. We are trying to hold serve and stay the course based on any other information we received,” executive director Dr. Robert Lombardi said during the PIAA Board of Directors meeting.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s ordered on Wednesday, there can be gatherings of no larger than 25 people indoors. Lombardi said that girls volleyball and all other fall sports that wish to have indoor workouts will have to adhere to that rule.
Louisiana said high school fall sports can not begin until the state moves from Phase 3 to Phase 4.
YES!!!!!!!
Indoor pools in Michigan are not open. How do we have a season without pools?