Golf, tennis and cross country teams in Michigan are going well. Volleyball, boys football and girls swimming and diving? This fall remains a bit complicated.
As for football, those teams still have to wait until spring to compete.
That was the message that was delivered Thursday by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. The organization announced that all bankruptcy sports, except football, are underway in Region 6 (Northern Lower Peninsula) and Region 8 (Upper Peninsula), which are classified in Phase 5 as part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s MI Safe Start Plan Roadmap.
Only land, golf and tennis may hold leagues in all other parts of the state, as an attempt continues to limit potential exposure to COVID-19.
A map shows what phase of the MI Safe Start Plan each Michigan region is in, starting August 11th.
Volleyball, football and swimming teams can continue to practice in Phase 4 regions – Regions 1-5 and 7; in other words, all other parts of the state – but those sports may not host leagues until the OK is given by the mayor’s office.
But here’s where things get tricky: Volleyball, football and swimming teams may travel to and compete in Regions 6 and 8.
Confused? Welcome to 2020, the year of the coronavirus pandemic.
The MHSAA’s Representative Council was ready to compete in all regions for boys’ soccer, girls’s and volleyball, but was unable to do so because it sought clarification and guidance from Whitmer’s bureau on current executive orders. t they relate to the use of indoor school gyms and swimming pools.
“Our Council has made it clear that it is ready to offer students these opportunities, pending Governor Whitmer’s approval that we can do so,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said in a release. ‘We are told that within a week future guidance will address athletic issues that exist in current executive assignments. We are waiting for that guidance.
“The MHSAA and the Representative Council are committed to complying with all current and future executive orders and security measures. However, we need more answers before we can give all our member schools the go-ahead to play each other again, and the majority of our schools are in regions that do not yet participate in volleyball, football and swimming. “
The phases described in Govt. Gretchen Whitmer’s “MI Safe Start Plan” to Reopen Michigan’s Economy. (Courtesy Graph | State of Michigan)
Regions 6 and 8 are classified in Phase 5, while the rest of the state is grouped in Phase 4.
Cross country, golf, swimming and tennis are lower risk fall sports classified by the MHSAA. Volleyball and football are considered false sports as moderate risk, while football is higher risk.
While swimming and diving are lower risk, leagues are in and require permission from the governor’s office to continue. Football is played outside, and is in the moderate risk category because of its potential for contact.
MHSAA spokesman John Johnson told MLive that social distancing issues around Phase 4 are the only thing preventing football. Phase 5 is needed for football leagues to take place, according to Johnson.
Last Friday, the MHSAA announced that the fall football season has moved to the spring. Teams were able to practice through Wednesday this week while awaiting further guidance.
Now, starting on Monday 24 August, football teams are allowed 16 voluntary contact days for coach player with helmets until 31 October. No competition or practice with students from other schools is allowed.
This fee is intended for on-site practice sessions at school facilities if the school permits, with all declared safety protocols and pandemic safety measures being followed. Furthermore, if a student participates in fall football in another state, he or she would not be eligible for a second football season in Michigan in the spring.
All other bankruptcy sports in Michigan were allowed to start practicing on August 12th. Lower Peninsula girls ‘golf and boys’ tennis teams, as well as tennis squads for the Upper Peninsula, began competing Wednesday and caught a 160-day absence from high school in the state.
Boys and girls cross-country competitions will begin this Friday. Volleyball, boys’ soccer, and girls on the Lower Peninsula swimming and diving began this Friday, but that plan has changed in most of the state.
Beginning on Tuesday, September 8, all spring sports are allowed 16 volunteer, offseasons contact days with coach player, consisting of more than four players, and that period runs through October 31st. As with football, no competition or practice with students from other schools is allowed.
The four-player rule will continue for winter sports. The activity must take place outside, subject to current and future Executive Orders.
Sideline cheer activities, including practices and cheering for fall matches, are allowed until the downtime of the pre-season for competitive cheer begins October 25th.
High and middle school regulations allow fashion sports practices to begin Monday, Aug. 24 at school facilities if the school allows with all declared safety protocols being followed. Schools may continue in all high school sports except football this fall based on decisions of leagues and / or individual schools.
Read more:
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