Local Districts Will Decide High School Sports Plans
Most decisions around high school athletics this fall during the coronavirus pandemic will be made by local school districts, according to recommendations released Thursday by the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA).
AHSAA officials say the guidelines are fluid and will be updated as officials learn more about the virus.
“Everyone should understand sports this season will not be normal,” AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese said in a press conference.
The plan is based on the fall season starting as scheduled with competitions beginning as early as August 20. Savarese said there is no one-size-fits-all approach, so the plan gives local school systems flexibility. He said there’s no penalty for schools to opt out of competitions as the pandemic’s severity changes.
“We understand schools may have to start and stop, delay [and] play at a later date, schedule and reschedule,” Savarese said.
The decision to play high school sports as scheduled comes as a number of school districts have announced plans to start the school year virtually with no in-person instruction. Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Selma are among the school systems to make that move. Others will offer both online and in-person learning. Savarese said students will be able to participate in athletics regardless of the model school systems have chosen.
The recommendations largely mirror public health guidance to wear face masks, practice social distancing and maintain good cleaning practices. For instance, the AHSAA recommends the player box be extended on the sidelines at football games to allow for social distancing. Host schools should offer clean locker rooms, and if social distancing is not possible, develop other arrangements. The AHSAA said swimmers should arrive at meets dressed to compete. Face masks are recommended when not at play.
Savarese said any decision to restrict fans would be made by local schools, but he recommended accommodating bands and cheerleaders before fans.
Some states have delayed their seasons. Georgia pushed back high school sports for two weeks. But Savarese said the AHSAA board decided against that to allow for at least a limited season, should it be cut short because of an outbreak. He said that would also allow winter and spring sports to start on time. The pandemic abruptly ended spring sports last school year.
“I know our students are excited about the opportunity to return to a sense of normalcy, and that is our goal also,” Savarese said.
Board Approved Document-Best Practices for Return to Play by WBHM News on Scribd
Trump will drop push for National Guard deployments in Chicago, LA and Portland, Ore.
Courts blocked troops from deploying in Chicago and Portland, Ore., and the Los Angeles deployment effectively ended after a judge blocked it earlier this month.
What Stranger Things gets right about wormholes
The final episode of fifth season of the Netflix series Stranger Things is out this week, and the concept of a wormhole figures largely into it. While the show is a work of fiction, theoretical wormholes have making appearances for decades not only in science fiction but in actual science.
Photos: The world welcomes the new year
As fireworks light the sky and crowds count down together, communities around the globe welcome 2026.
Meet five new species discovered in 2025
A bumpy snailfish, Andean mouse opossum and ancient sea cow were just some of the many species described in 2025.
What to know about Nick Shirley, the YouTuber alleging daycare fraud in Minnesota
Shirley is a 23-year-old self-described "independent YouTube journalist" who made prank videos in high school before pivoting to politics. He participated in a White House roundtable in October.
Greetings from Vienna, where an imperial palace hosts a holiday market for all
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
