It’s Official: Spring Sports cancelled for the remainder of the school year
The MHSAA made it official on Wednesday: spring sports have been cancelled in Mississippi for the remainder of the school year.
The executive committee voted unanimously to end the season after the Governor issued an order closing schools.
“The MHSAA has remained in contact with state education officials during this situation,” MHSAA Executive Director Don Hinton said. “It was clear that the statewide closure of schools for the spring semester was a possibility and that obviously impacts athletics and activities.
All activities in the state have been shut down until June 1st.
All Mississippi High School Activities Association athletics and activities have been suspended since March 19. Per MHSAA policy, competition and practice are not permitted while member schools are closed.
The MHSAA issued the following:
The Executive Committee of the the Mississippi High School Activities Association voted Wednesday morning to cancel all sports and activities until the start of the 2020-21 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Executive Committee’s decision follows Tuesday’s announcement by Gov. Tate Reeves that all public schools will be closed for the rest of the 2019-20 academic 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.”
