The PIAA has approved a set of plans to move forward with the 2020 high school sports season, the state’s governing body announced on Wednesday.
In a press release on Wednesday stemming from meeting of the PIAA’s board of governors, the PIAA has set out three sets of scheduling plans that individual leagues, conferences and schools can opt to utilize.
“PIAA is committed to providing a season for all sports in the upcoming school year and will be flexible if conditions would change,” the board’s statement read.
In the guidelines released by the PIAA for return to play, fans will not be permitted under the current green-phase guidance from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and health secretary Dr. Rachael Levine.
There is an unmodified plan, with heat acclimatization beginning Aug. 10, practice beginning Aug. 17 and the first date for football games coming on Aug. 24.
Alternate schedules would see the start of football pushed back to Sept. 18, or at the very latest, Oct. 5.
Regardless of when the season starts, players and coaches will have to undergo health assessments, temperature checks and comply with social distancing protocols.
This will blow up in the PIAA’s face. Having first hand with these “administrators”, I would council parents “Explain the ramifications of the virus to your children and sit out this season.” Your children, yourselves and your parents will be grateful.
This is idiotic at best and dangerous at worst. So, MLB can’t go a week without COVID cases and the PSAC canceled Fall sports, but the PIAA is going to keep everyone safe. OK… good luck with that!!