IHSAA shuts down sports in Idaho for next three weeks
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 6 years AGO
High school sporting events throughout Idaho for the next three weeks have been suspended, and all practices canceled during that time, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Idaho High School Activities Association announced Monday.
The suspension begins today, and runs through April 5, the IHSAA said.
The dates for spring sports competitions will not be pushed back, the IHSAA said.
State golf tournaments are scheduled for May 11-12, and state track and field, softball and tennis is scheduled for May 15-16. State baseball is scheduled for May 14-16. While the IHSAA sanctions baseball, it does not sponsor the state tournament, which is technically an “invitational.”
“Implementing cancellations and/or suspension is taken in part with consultation with public health officials to implement best practices in slowing the spread of COVID 19 and therefore aid in protection of students and the general public; to reduce competitive inequity among member schools and in an effort to have the opportunity to hold our spring state tournaments/events on the assigned dates/sites as those dates will not be extended,” the IHSAA said in a news release.
“During the suspension, IHSAA member schools are not to compete in games or contests. Member schools are not to conduct practices in IHSAA-sanctioned sports at any location. Neither member schools nor their coaches nor student athletes are to hold meetings. 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. Rule 8-11, Outside Competition, is still in effect.”
On Saturday, the Coeur d’Alene School District shut down games and practices for the next three weeks. Post Falls followed suit on Monday. Lakeland closed its schools and curtailed games and practices for Monday and today.
The IHSAA also said the state cheer/dance championships, postponed this past weekend, will not be rescheduled.
The state debate championship is still postponed, the IHSAA said, as it possibly could be combined with the upcoming state speech championships scheduled for April 17-18.