OHSAA does not plan to change tournament dates
COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) announced on Thursday that it does not plan to change dates of the upcoming winter tournaments.
While understanding that our focus is on the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes and all participants in the interscholastic environment, at this point we have no plans to change the dates for our upcoming winter tournaments,” the association said in a memo to schools. “However, we will continue to study the data on COVID-19 and continue in discussions with Go. Mike DeWine’s office to determine if we need to make any changes.”
As we have said previously, the decision for schools to move forward with their winter sports seasons is strictly a local decision.
Schools or school districts may certainly choose not to participate in a contest or to pause their season(s) for a period and should do what is in their best interest.”
The association added that if tournament dates were to be moved, the OHSAA said it believed it has flexibility that would allow it to look at implementing other models for the winter and/or spring seasons and tournaments.
The OHSAA re-emphasized that administrators should do all they can to
keep crowds to a minimum, even going below the Ohio health director’s sports order that limits spectators to the lesser of 15% permanent, fixed seats or 300.
“Our recommendation is that you limit your crowds to parents and immediate family members,” the OHSAA added.
The OHSAA’s Observer’s Program is continuing this winter. The association announced that observers attended 50 OHSAA contests last week. These designated individuals are attending contests throughout the state to ensure mandates in the Ohio health director’s sports order are being followed.
Concerns expressed to the OHSAA about various sites not following protocols may prompt our office to assign or reassign an observer to your school. However, in general, the observers are not in attendance to police the requirements set forth by the governor’s office, according to the association’s memo.
“They are simply there to report on what they find,” the OHSAA added. “After observers file their reports with the OHSAA, we will review each report and share them as a tool to help schools maintain the mandates to provide a safe atmosphere and continue to provide opportunities.”