MICHIGAN — The 3 high school sports waiting on a decision about their season got their answer from the MHSAA.
Boys soccer, girls volleyball, and girls swimming & diving will all be allowed to start their regular seasons, after a vote by the Representative Council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
However teams in lower Michigan will have to wait until Governor Whitmer lifts restrictions on indoor facilities and sign off on the limited physical distancing of competitions. Teams in northern lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula will be allowed to start competitions as scheduled.
“Our Council has made clear it is ready to offer students these opportunities, pending approval from Governor Whitmer that we may do so,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “We have been told that within a week, future guidance will address athletic issues that exist in current executive orders. We are awaiting that guidance."
The MHSAA also set attendance caps for all sports. Only 250 people or 25% of a gym's capacity, whichever is smaller, may attend volleyball matches. At pools, just 25% of the building's capacity may be used. 500 people can attend outdoor competitions, unless 25% capacity of the venue is smaller.
Football and traditional spring sports are allowed to have more contact between coaches and athletes. An additional 16 days of instruction will be allowed, as long as those practices and workouts happen before the end of October. From November until the spring those sports can hold conditioning workouts.
No schedule for football's spring season was released. The MHSAA says that should come sometime this fall.
