LOCAL SPORTS IN SASKATOON WAIT OUT PANDEMIC THREAT
Now that the global outbreak of COVID -19 has brought the sports world screeching to a halt, our thoughts turn to the spring and summer sports seasons — theoretically, just around the corner.
Words like “suspended,” “postponed” and “delayed” are typically weather-related, but they are suddenly applicable to all sports at the mercy — and bearing the inescapable brunt — of a global pandemic.
The novel coronavirus has already meant an abrupt end to the winter sports season, which saw many local leagues in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan stop in the middle, or near the end, of playoffs.
It has also resulted in the cancellation of wind-ups for winter sports teams. Minor hockey teams, youth soccer teams and others have been instructed, or advised, to cancel any social gatherings in compliance with social-distancing guidelines now in place.
With spring and summer sports around the corner, at least calendar-wise, what does this mean locally in Saskatoon?
Here’s a breakdown and sampling of what’s happening with a variety of sports in the city:
BASEBALL
Locally, AAA tryouts have been suspended until further notice.
Baseball Sask. has “no plans to cancel the 2020 season” at this time, however.
May is the targeted start of the season — “a few weeks away and expected to be able to proceed,” reads a Baseball Sask. statement. “However, as we are learning more each day about COVID -19 and how it is affecting society, we will constantly be re-evaluating our plans for the upcoming season as more information becomes available. As it currently stands, all Baseball Sask.-sanctioned activities remain in a suspended state.”
BASKETBALL
School gym rentals are under lockdown in Saskatoon until April 19; the Saskatoon Minor Basketball Association hopes to begin spring league play as early as April 20.
In the meantime, the SMBA has decided to suspend activities until further notice “due to ongoing concerns resulting from the COVID-19 coronavirus” and “in support of health authority recommendations regarding avoiding large group and crowded public activities.”
The final weekend of SMBA playoffs was cancelled and won’t be rescheduled. Further decisions regarding 3x3 spring league and developmental leagues will “be reviewed as information becomes available.”
The Saskatchewan Rattlers, who play in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, are continuing general operations with hopes of going forward with the upcoming season, which is slated to begin in May.
CURLING
Curlsask has temporarily suspended all domestic sanctioned curling activities, events and programs until further notice.
In line with Curling Canada’s recommendation, Curlsask will suspend all events and programs for the 2019-20 season, according to a statement issued by the provincial body.
“While we recognize that this decision to close your facility can only be made by a club and/ or league, we all share a responsibility to minimize risks related to COVID -19,” the statement read.
Individual clubs, like the Granite Curling Club, are following suit.
“Management and the board of directors of your Granite Curling Club have decided to cancel the remainder of the curling season and close the club down effective Monday, March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
FOOTBALL
Football Saskatchewan has already cancelled its annual coaches’ clinic and Football Saskatchewan player ID combine and is “pausing” all further scheduled events until further notice.
Upcoming events scheduled include the Playground to the Pros in mid-april and Saskatoon Minor Football academy, which, as of Wednesday afternoon, has been officially postponed because of COVID-19 until a projected start date of April 27.
Spring flag-football leagues will also wait for word on when they can begin play.
A University of Saskatchewan Huskies elite camp, scheduled for March 28, is cancelled.
The Saskatoon Hilltops cancelled an off-season practice this past weekend.
HOCKEY
Saskatoon Minor Hockey Association has cancelled all of its Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities, including practices, games and even social wind-ups.
All City of Saskatoon rinks, along with the Canlan Arenas (Jemini and Agriplace) and Merlis Belsher Place, are among hockey arenas that have temporarily shut their doors to the public. As a result, the Huskie Hockey Academy and some privately run sessions — such as Trach Powerskating, for example — have been suspended until further notice.
The Saskatoon Blades remain in limbo after the Western Hockey League announced it was cancelling the rest of the regular season with hopes of playoffs later on.
LACROSSE
Although the Saskatchewan Lacrosse Association postponed all Sla-sanctioned activities (practices, games, camps, programs, clinics and tryouts) for the time being due to concerns over COVID-19, it has stopped short of cancelling the 2020 season.
The SLA board of directors feel it’s “time to take necessary precautions to keep our community and families safe.”
“At this time,” a statement said, “a timeline cannot be provided on activities resuming.”
The National Lacrosse League’s Saskatchewan Rush still hope to resume play this season.
SOCCER
Saskatoon Youth Soccer is continuing plans for the upcoming outdoor season.
In the meantime, all Canada Soccer activities — such as training and practices, coach and referee clinics, evaluations and tryouts, team wind-ups, club socials, team-building activities and “friendly” exhibition matches — have been suspended until further notice.
Some activities have already been cancelled and others postponed.
An April 20 start date for under-11 to under-19 outdoor soccer leagues may be delayed, if necessary.
SOFTBALL
Following a suspension of Softball Canada activities, Softball Saskatchewan is now stopping all sanctioned softball activities until April 14 — after saying, just one day earlier, it would suspend things until March 31.
Until the suspension is lifted, Softball Saskatchewan will not sanction any organized activities, including practices, evaluations, game or tournaments. Other events include coaching, umpire and player development clinics.
In the meantime, registration has been going ahead with the hope of playing ball later this spring and summer.
TRACK AND FIELD
Saskatchewan Athletics staff continue to work within the Saskatoon Field House office, although the doors are closed to the public.
Some events have already been cancelled, like the Aboriginal indoor track and field championships, Hershey Canadian under-16, under-18, under-20 championships, and a club coach instructor course.
Other events, such as the Run, Jump, Throw, Wheel instructor course, have been postponed.
Athletes who continue training on their own are advised to follow guidelines from public health agencies.
WRESTLING
Although the Pan American Olympic trials were held this past weekend in Ottawa, the upcoming 2020 Canadian senior, junior and under-17/under-19 juvenile wrestling championships — scheduled to take place March 27-29 in London, Ont., and April 3-5 in Edmonton, where a number of Saskatoon areas were expected to compete — have been postponed.