Winter High School Sports – Syndication Server

Minnesota to allow fans at winter high school sports

Minnesota will allow fans to attend youth and high school sports events when they resume next week.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday that fans will be allowed to attend youth and high school sports games when they resume next week, per the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Walz’s updated order mandates that venues must limit capacity to 25%, following limits for both indoor and outdoor sporting events. Up to 150 people can attend indoor events such as basketball and hockey games, while up to 250 people can attend outdoor events.

High school sports practices in Minnesota resumed Monday. Games have been approved to begin on Jan. 14 and the use of masks will continue to be required.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine asks schools not allow fans through December for winter sports

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has a simple request for high schools across the state — keep fans out of stands for another month.

Some schools across Ohio have paused their winter sports because of COVID-19 spikes in the area. For those that have not suspended their sports, DeWine requested on Tuesday that schools still playing not allow fans to attend.

“For those that have not suspended sports, we would ask you when you conduct winter sports — basketball games, whatever — to do so without fans,” DeWine said, per Cleveland.com. “This is another opportunity for us to pull back. It allows our student-athletes to continue to play, which as a parent or grandparent is the most important thing.”

Ohio is asking schools to adopt this policy through Jan. 1, 2021, when it will be re-evaluated. However, the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) followed up DeWine’s request by announcing that parents are still allowed to attend games. Last week, the OHSAA announced its intention to move ahead with the winter sports season as originally scheduled.

“As one superintendent told me today, the idea of bringing 200 adults into our gym at this point during the pandemic with the spread we’re seeing makes no sense,” DeWine said.

No immediate plans to allow winter high school sports in New York

Winter high school sports in New York are currently in a holding pattern.

With COVID-19 cases rising throughout New York, state officials said Monday that they are less likely to allow “high-risk” indoor sports this winter. Those sports include basketball, hockey and wrestling. No official decision has been announced, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other top state officials doubt whether winter sports will be able to take place.

“As we’re seeing the inclines in different parts of the state, we’re not inclined to go ahead with opening the winter sports at this time,” State budget director Robert Mujica said on a conference call with reporters, per lohud.com. “We’re continuing to look at those numbers, but the numbers right now don’t indicate we are going to expand them right now.”

In August, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced it would delay the beginning of winter sports until Nov. 30 in order to give fall teams more time to complete their seasons. On Thursday, Section III announced that winter sports can begin Monday, Dec. 14. However, basketball, ice hockey, wrestling and competitive cheerleading have all been deemed high-risk sports by the state health department, leaving them in uncertainty.

Bowling, gymnastics, indoor track and field, skiing, swimming and diving have all received clearance to proceed with their seasons. In Section III, swimming and diving has been moved to the “Fall II” season in March. Gymnasts are currently competing this fall.

“At this time, authorization has not been provided for high-risk sports to begin play,” Zayas said. “The high-risk sports start date continues to be examined and will be revised if needed but is contingent upon authorization from state officials.”