The Start of High School Fall Sports Pushed to September 14

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) made an official announcement yesterday that the fall season for high school sports will be pushed back to September 14.

A promising update for high school athletes, the recommendation by the COVID-19 Task Force gives hope for fall sports – but don’t gear up just yet, as concrete plans have yet to be established.

Michael shared the news this morning on Michael and Maddie that practices could begin in September, as opposed to the usual start time of late August.

I immediately got excited for these athletes because it sounds like the players will be able to hit the fields. But as Michael explained, “The plan still needs to be approved by the state and by Governor Baker.” They will reconvene after the state puts out its guidance for schools to decide on details.

While it’s a step in the right direction, it is still unclear which teams will be allowed to play, if at all. Michael speculated that the state may not allow some sports. The Task Force has categorized each sport as High Risk, Medium Risk, and Low Risk, leaving some sports more promising than others.

My heart breaks for these students. My world revolved around softball all throughout grade school. I don’t know what type of adult I would be without the structure, discipline, and memories that youth sports gave me. These young athletes deserve to play the sports they love, and it is gut-wrenching to see them miss out on playing time due to a life-threatening pandemic.

The most recent announcement from the MIAA is promising. Expect to see updates on the department’s guidelines in early August.