AHSAA closes shop; AISA delaying decision
By TIM GAYLE
The Alabama High School Athletic Association followed the directive from the state Department of Education and announced on Friday morning that all spring sports would be canceled for the remainder of the school year.
The Alabama Independent School Association, meanwhile, extended its suspension of play to meet Gov. Kay Ivey’s directive but left the door open for a possible return to play this spring.
On Thursday, state superintendent of education Dr. Eric Mackey announced that all public schools in the state would be closed for the remainder of the school year, leaving AHSAA executive director Steve Savarese little choice but to cancel AHSAA-sponsored sporting events.
“Like thousands of others, I am deeply saddened and disappointed that our schools have closed, and spring sports will not have an opportunity to finish their seasons,” Savarese said in a statement. “Even more so, I am disheartened for all student-athletes, contest officials, their coaches, families, student bodies, fans, communities, and especially our seniors. We are facing an unprecedented health crisis, but I am prayerful that the steps we are taking now within our schools and across our nation will enable all those affected to return to a sense of normalcy sooner than later.”
On Friday, Ivey announced she would issue a directive to close all “non-essential” businesses, venues and activities through 5 p.m. on April 17 – extending a March 13 request to close through April 6.
AISA officials followed Ivey’s suggestion, closing schools and suspending sports and school-related activities through April 6, then on Friday extending the period through April 17.
“The AISA Athletic Committee, along with the AISA Coaches Council and Heads Association, will continue working together to develop contingency plans should we have the opportunity to resume competition later this spring,” AISA executive director Michael McLendon said in a statement. “It was certainly not our desire to see spring sports suspended so abruptly but these are obviously circumstances beyond our control.
“Our hearts hurt for all of the student-athletes and coaches but we are particularly sorrowful for our seniors and their parents. We will continue to be hopeful that we may resume the spring sports season while being mindful of what is in the best interest of our community. For now, I encourage you to continue praying for our country, our leaders and the health care professionals that are working tirelessly so that we may resume to normal activity.”
Both AHSAA and AISA organizations do not permit the use of workouts of any kind by players or the use of school facilities, such as weight rooms, during this period. Groups are forbidden under Ivey’s directive from working out at off-campus sports facilities.
While McLendon believes it is extremely doubtful that the spring sports season will resume, he thought it prudent to follow the governor’s directive in case the coronavirus pandemic eases by April 17. In the meantime, the organization’s athletic committee has developed several scenarios, including one in which every school is allowed to participate in an abbreviated version of postseason play.
“That (April 17 date), at least, gives us some hope,” McLendon said. “We’ve got many ideas on different (return) dates. I don’t think anything’s going to release before April 17. If things start to look up on April 17, those are some of the things we’ve talked about. We could be creative with whatever state tournament we put together. We’ll have some teams that opt not to play.”
If AISA postseason play were held, he added, it likely would happen in quick succession with multiple sports and most likely would be held in Gulf Shores. Many of the AISA’s championship events, including soccer, softball and baseball, are currently held in Montgomery, but those venues will likely be off limits by order of the mayor.