Spring sports season on hold amid coronavirus fears
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Following Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announcements on Sunday to suspend school classes for four weeks, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and Iowa High School Athletic Association have decided to suspend any sporting activities for the time being.
“Based on new information today from the Iowa Department of Public Health, now is the time to move to the next level of response,” said Governor Reynolds. “I am now recommending that all Iowa schools close for a period of four weeks to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) also recommended that events with 50 or more people be cancelled or postponed for at least eight weeks. Events following the planned four-week school closure in Iowa will be updated as the situation develops.
Currently, the closure date extends through Friday, April 10, with a return date of April 13.
“Prior to April 10, the schedule will be assessed as necessary with information from the Governor, Iowa Department of Health, Iowa Department of Education and activity partners at the IGHSAU, IHSAA, IHSMA and IHSSA.” The IGHSAU said in a statement Monday.
The first practice date for boys sports started Monday, March 16 while baseball was secudled to begin limited practice time on April 1.
The girls sports season was set to begin March 16 as well.
Both baseball and softball first practice was set for May 4 and remains the same until further information is provided.
“All IHSAA and IGHSAU sports are now in a prohibited period for practice, competition and sanctioned activity until the closure is lifted,” said the IGHSAU. “This prohibition means no in-person contact between coaches/administrators and student-athletes for the duration of the period.”
Guidance on future IGHSAU and IHSAA activity schedule adjustments and their effects on season lengths as well as post-season events will be announced through www.iahsaa.org and www.ighsau.org.
