With Governor Steve Sisolak directing that schools will not re-open through the end of April, in conjunction with the Stay at Home Order announced yesterday, the possible restart of spring sports was pushed back again.
The NIAA received word that the NIAA member schools located in California will be closed for the remainder of the school year and therefore will not be participating in any competition the NIAA is able to provide this spring.
The NIAA staff with input from classification representatives, has been putting together contingency plans based on schools re-opening with extracurricular activities on or about Friday, May 1.
Should schools re-open and activities be permitted at that time, the plan, currently, is to begin interscholastic competition on Thursday or Friday, May 7 or 8.
It is anticipated in all spring sports, that there will be no state tournaments.
A plan for competition in regional tournaments/meets is being devised.
These tournaments will all be completed by May 16, the originally scheduled date for completion of state tournaments.
Due to travel considerations and the need to avoid out of class time, tournament formats will likely vary in different classifications.
In the individual sports of swimming & diving and track & field, schools would be able to compete in competition they arrange beginning May 7.
Entry directly into the regional meet for a maximum number of entries per event per school would make up the regional meet.
For boys golf, depending on the number of teams in a region and the ability of courses to handle the number of golfers, each school will be allowed to enter a team of six golfers in a Regional tournament qualifier held May 7 or later depending on course availability.
A predetermined number of teams and individuals would qualify from the results of these qualifiers to the regional tournament.
In regions which are small enough that a course could handle the number of competitors for the entire region, all schools would compete in the regional tournament.
In this situation, schools would have the opportunity to schedule matches beginning May 7.
In team sports (baseball, and softball) all teams will be entered in their respective regional tournament.
Depending on the number of teams, regional tournaments could start play as early as Friday, May 8.
For tournaments that do not require a start date that early, schools would have the opportunity to schedule games beginning Thursday, May 7.
These are contingency plans and not absolute by any means.
Adjustments can and likely will be made. There may be a need to limit the number of contests in which a school competes in sports where there is an opportunity for schools to schedule contests.
This is to assure that an excessive intrusion into what will be limited classroom time between the re-opening of schools and the scheduled end of the school year does not occur.
It is anticipated at this time that competition will not go beyond the dismissal of school for the current school year.
It is anticipated at this time that schools will conclude this school year as originally scheduled.
A lack of days/weeks to complete competition could result in no Region Tournament/Meet competition. It is the hope of NIAA staff that regional tournaments will be able to be held.
Realignment
Committee Meeting
The Realignment Committee scheduled for March 13, was postponed. The meeting will take place April 9, 9 a.m.
This meeting will be done totally remotely. Those wishing to make public comment will need to contact the NIAA in advance of the meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to hear appeals by schools aligned in the 3A, 4A and 5A classifications for winter sports per the recommendation of the Realignment Committee.
Those schools which have notified the NIAA that they wish to make an appeal will be notified on how that is to happen. Following the hearing of the appeals, the Committee will then adopt a final recommendation for the alignment of schools including league alignment.
Also on the agenda for the meeting is the adoption of a recommendation for tournament formats for winter sports in the 3A, 4A and 5A classifications.
NIAA Board of
Control Meeting
The regular Spring meeting of the NIAA Board of Control originally scheduled for March 30-31 was postponed.
The meeting will take place April 21, 22 or 23. This meeting will be done remotely. Schools will be notified of the date of the scheduled meeting as soon as it is decided.
