What we know about the spring season delay
With school closures being extended, waiting continues
Gov. Larry Hogan and Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Karen B. Salmon announced in a press conference Friday that public schools would remain closed through at least May 15, extending the postponement of the spring sports season.
Here’s what we know — and what we still don’t:
Timeline of events
Public school spring sports tryouts and practices began Feb. 29 and the first original play date was set for Friday, March 20.
Several private schools had already begun their seasons when Gov. Hogan and
Salmon first announced their decision March 12 to close public schools from March 16-27 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and that order has now been extended twice — first on March 25 through April 27, and again Friday through May15.
The Maryland Public Secondary Athletics Association state basketball tournament semifinals and championship games were postponed March12, and the league has not yet said it will or will not be rescheduled.
The MPSSAA released a statement March 13 outlining possible return dates for athletic contests. It said teams are required to cancel team practices until schools are reopened, which was tentatively set for March 30, that teams are not permitted to practice until they are allowed to do so by their local educational agency, and that teams should reconsider playing games after April 6 that might include more than 250 people and any potential opponents that may be out-of-state.
The Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland, which supervises private school girls athletics in the region, sent out a directive to its members March12 that there will be a moratorium on the spring season until April 10 and that league competition would resume at the earliest on April 20.
No end in sight
With school closures being extended twice, the MPSSAA, IAAM and Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association, which supervises private school boys athletics in the region, have all postponed their spring season until further notice.
The MPSSAA’s most recent announcement came March 27. It read: “In accordance with the actions of the State Superintendent of Schools and the Maryland State Board of Education earlier this week, all interscholastic athletic team gatherings, activities, practices, and contests are suspended until further notice.
“The MPSSAA will remain vigilant regarding interscholastic athletics and the health and safety of students and school communities. The MPSSAA will continue to work collaboratively with the MSDE and other relevant state agencies to determine the best route for interscholastic athletics to resume.”
What happens next?
Administrators, coaches and athletes are in a continued holding pattern regarding additional news about the spring season.
None of the three leagues have made any announcements regarding Salmon’s extending of public school closures Friday, and MPSSAA executive director Andy Warner did not respond to an email.