PIAA Urges Member Schools to Adhere to Mitigation Effort as Sports Are “Paused”

MECHANICSBURG, PA – The PIAA, in a Friday statement, is urging its member schools to follow state mitigation efforts while scholastic sports in the commonwealth are on a three week hold.

Student-athletes in the Keystone Central School District have been unable to begin preseason practice as the district, due to an area surge in COVID-19 cases, has been confined to online learning since Nov. 2. The sports participants were hoping the district on Friday might sound the go-ahead for the start of practice. However those hopes were dashed a day earlier when Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday announced that all extra-curriculars statewide are shut down for the three week period. Many schools across the state had been able to engage in preseason practice with regular season events scheduled for this weekend; now all are off until sometime in January at the earliest.

In the meantime, the PIAA in its Friday statement urged diligence to help flatten the COVID-19 case curve:

SUSPENSION OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

The increases in Covid-19 cases across the Commonwealth have led the Governor to “pause” extracurricular activities for the next three weeks. Hopefully, this temporary suspension will assist in flattening the curve and reducing the numbers of cases statewide. We all collectively must be diligent in following mitigation efforts in order for a successful return to the season.

In anticipation of hopefully returning to play in January, PIAA will continue to recognize and review suggestions from various professional education groups represented on the Board of Directors. The Board has been proactive in the implementation of policies throughout the fall and winter sports’ seasons. At Wednesday’s meeting, the Board removed many eligibility restrictions and deadlines to allow for maximum flexibility and opportunities for schools to complete a winter season.

PIAA President, Mr. Frank Majikes, stated “PIAA is committed to maximizing the athletic opportunities for all student-athletes across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Board will continue to meet and monitor this ever-changing pandemic and its implications on schools and their communities.”