The Mississippi High School Activity Association announced last week that they had canceled all sports and activities for the remainder of the 2020 spring season.
The decision came after Gov. Tate Reeves announced that all Mississippi schools would remained closed for the remainder of the school year.
Per MHSAA rules, competition, practice or tryouts for sports and activities are not allowed while schools are closed. Therefore, offseason and summer sports and activities for schools shall not begin until June 1 or until further notice. This policy was reaffirmed by the Executive Committee during Wednesday’s conference call.
“I want to thank the Executive Committee and our Sports Medicine Advisory Committee for their excellent leadership and support through what has been an unprecedented crisis for our schools,” MHSAA Executive Director Don Hinton. “We are extremely fortunate to have these exemplary leaders providing guidance and care for our Mississippi students and schools. The safety and well-being of our students, school personnel and communities is always at the very top of our list of priorities. When Gov. Reeves made the announcement schools would be closed for the remainder of the current 2019-20 school year, both MHSAA leadership and the Executive Committee felt the time had come to cancel all activities and athletics as well.”
“This is an extremely difficult day because we know how much work, dedication and sacrifice these students, coaches and their families have put into these sports and activities that are unable to finish their spring seasons. We join all of our schools in anticipation of a successful return to sports and activities in the fall of 2020. The MHSAA thanks everyone involved for their patience and understanding throughout this process.”
MAIS update
While the MHSAA has cancelled spring sports, the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools has still not made a decision on spring sports.
The MAIS issues a press release on Friday regarding spring sports.
“While we are aware that most of the surrounding public school associations have made decisions to cancel athletics and activities for the remainder of the school year, we wanted our member schools to know that the MAIS has NOT made that decision yet.
“Even though we are unable to provide specifics at this time, we felt it important to let you be aware that we have not given up! There are still numerous options out there that have been formulated that would allow us to be ready and able to return to play if and when the opportunity presents itself.”
There is a meeting of the MAIS Activities and Athletics Commission scheduled for April 28 where the question of spring sports will be taken up again.
