Update on school sports season expected this week

High school sports and other extracurricular activities sanctioned by the Idaho High School Activities Association remain suspended at least through April 5 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the IHSAA said.
 Weiser High School and other high schools across the state were barely into their spring sports schedules when the IHSAA stopped all sports and practices effective March 17.  
 The WHS varsity girls golf team was unable to play in the season opener when the Weiser Invitational at Rolling Hills Golf Course was cancelled on March 16. It was the first event for the girls.
 In addition to impacting WHS spring sports, including tennis, baseball, softball, golf and track and field, the suspension also impacted WHS cheer competitions. The state cheer competition was cancelled and will not be rescheduled, ending Weiser’s chance to defend its title at the 3A state competition.  
 The IHSAA suspension of spring sports is scheduled to run through April 5, which is rapidly approaching. Schools are out across the state until April 20 on a “soft closure,” which means students are not physically in the classroom but will be involved in remote learning when spring break ends.
 Weiser School District superintendent Wade Wilson said he participated in a webinar on Thursday and ISHAA’s director said the governing agency’s board was meeting early this week. The director indicated that the sports suspension would likely be extended through at least April. 20.
 The IHSAA is working on the possibility of combining the state debate championship with the state speech championships. Those are scheduled for April 17-18.
 The IHSAA runs state championships for five activities each spring. They include speech, golf, softball, tennis and track and field. The IHSAA does not run the state baseball tournament. All state championships are scheduled during the week of May 11.
 In the announcement that high school spring sports were suspended due to COVID-19 concerns, the IHSAA said it would not reschedule this year’s state tournaments. Since then the IHSAA has not released any updates on high school sports.
 The IHSAA said the action was taken in part with consultation with public health officials to implement best practices in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and help protect students and the public.
 The suspension also was to reduce competitive inequity among member schools and in an effort to have the opportunity to hold spring state tournaments and events on the assigned dates and sites as those dates will not be extended.
 During the suspension, IHSAA member schools are not allowed to compete in games or contests. Member schools cannot conduct practices in IHSAA sanctioned sports at any location. Neither member schools nor their coaches nor student athletes can hold meetings.
 The suspension rules also state that member schools are not to allow students or coaches at any IHSAA member school to use the school’s athletic facilities for a practice, game or contest in any IHSAA sanctioned sport regardless of the affiliation (club or otherwise) of the group seeking to use the facilities. The use of athletic facilities for currently scheduled classes as a part of the regular school curriculum such as P.E. classes is allowed.
 “The IHSAA office, as well as the board of directors, will continue to monitor the rapidly changing landscape of the COVID-19 information and will work with our member schools and health officials to make informed and well thought out decisions,” the announcement said.
 Additional information will be sent to schools and/or districts as it becomes available.