State-by-state update on high school sports

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has recently released a guidance document for schools to return to activities safely. Alabama’s return to sports began on Monday, June 1 with Texas set to begin football conditioning activities in early June.

An article from MaxPreps.com, last updated on May 29, laid out a state-by-state update on where different athletic associations are in the process.

Below are some samples from where states are in its effort to safely return to athletics, according to the MaxPreps.com article.

• Colorado — The Colorado High School Activities Association is lifting the moratorium against in-person condition sessions between coaches and high school participants beginning on June 1. After that date, the decision regarding summer athletics and activities will be made at the local school district level. The CHSAA’s administrative oversight for athletics and activities will resume when camps, clinics, and fall sports practice dates are projected to begin. “This isn’t recreational park play or a free-for-all,” CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said. “Our schools will face some challenges, no different than professional and collegiate sports to resume any level of student participation.” Updates: www.chsaanow.com.
• Mississippi — On May 21, the Mississippi High School Activities Association approved teams to resume athletic activities starting June 1, however, teams will not be allowed to compete against each other this summer. Teams must follow any orders handed down by state and local government as well as its schools regarding COVID-19 precautions.  Updates: misshsaa.com.
• New Jersey — In a statement last week, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, in its 100th season, noted that “the organization is developing various scenarios and plans related to a potential fall return to school and sports.” From May 11 to June 15, the NJSIAA “will permit all school district-approved coaches to have virtual contact with all current high school student-athletes.” Updates: www.njsiaa.org.

• Louisiana — The Louisiana High School Athletic Association voted unanimously last week to push back summer workouts to June 8 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Football workouts and other conditioning originally were set to return Sunday to coincide with Gov. John Bel Edwards’ Phase 1 plan to reopen the state. But the LHSAA decided more time was needed and now the workout return will coincide with Phase 2 of Edwards’ reopening. Workouts can include groups as large as 25 student-athletes. Updates: www.lhsaa.org.
• Iowa — After the backing of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Wednesday, the Iowa High School Athletic Association approved the reopening of school facilities and the start of practices for Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and IHSAA sanctioned summer sports starting on June 1. That means softball and baseball — summer sports in Iowa — can begin playing contests as early as June 15 and fans will be permitted at games. Member schools are to follow the guidance of “Summer Sports” and “Use of School Facilities” as supplied by the IHSAA and several health and education organizations. Updates: www.iahsaa.org.

To get the update on all 50 states and where each stands in the return to play process, read the full article on MaxPreps.com here. 

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