AIA defers to high schools
The Arizona Interscholastic Association is allowing high schools in the state to determine how many fans can attend winter sports events.
Arizona high schools will be allowed to determine how many fans can attend winter sports events for the remainder of the season, the Arizona Interscholastic Association decided.
The AIA also modified its transfer rule for spring athletes at Tuesday's executive board meeting.
The board made the change to attendance rules with about three weeks left in the winter sports season which includes basketball, soccer and wrestling.
With COVID-19 numbers trending down in Arizona, the conferences in 1A through 6A recommended the AIA board allow for more spectators. The season began with only parents or guardians of home-team participants allowed at events. That later was modified to allow visiting team parents or guardians.
Now, with the AIA lifting its crowd restrictions, the schools are being asked to consider the health services recommendations in their areas.
"To open up completely would not be a good choice and helpful for the state of Arizona," Executive Director David Hines said during the board discussion on the item.
The AIA will continue to enforce the mask mandate through the remainder of the season, including the state playoffs. Everybody in each venue, even competitors, will be required to wear masks.
Not all board members voted to continue with the mask mandate for competitors.
Board member Jim Love threatened he would vote to drop the sport if the mask mandate for competitors was removed.
On or before March 1, the board will revisit the mask rule for athletes competing. If it is dropped for spring sports athletes, then the remaining teams competing in the winter sports playoffs in March would not be required to wear masks during competition.
Transfer rule change
The AIA board also passed a motion to modify the transfer rule for spring athletes. If an athlete transferred before Feb. 8, those athletes won't be penalized and have to sit out any of the spring sports season.
This is because spring sports normally starts Feb. 8. It is starting March 1 this year, because of the pandemic.
Because the pandemic wiped out most of the 2020 spring sports season, the AIA is willing to give those athletes a break with the transfer rule.
But if the athlete transferred after Feb. 8, he or she would have to go through a hardship appeal to regain all eligibility.
The board approved the recommendations from the 1A through 6A conferences on eliminating invitational tournaments for spring team sports, because of the late start. This allows schools to make up games if needed during the season and so it won't prolong the end of the seasons, which will run into late May.
Football season
The board voted to not make any changes in the current football placements for schools. But schools that wish to change its current conference placement, they can appeal that decision starting Feb. 25.
The start of the 2021 football season would begin Aug 27 with games for bigger-conference schools and finish with the state championships on the weekend of Dec. 10-11.
Smaller schools will be able to start earlier and finish with state championships the Thanksgiving weekend in late November.
There will be 10 regular-season games, but no byes during the state playoffs.