FREE ACCESS: IHSAA reverses course, opens high school sports on July 1

The Indiana High School Athletic Association took a huge step on Wednesday toward the resumption of interscholastic sports in the fall by eliminating the “moratorium” week scheduled for the end of June and allowing schools to have workouts and training sessions starting July 1.

Provided there are no adjustments to Governor Eric Holcomb’s announced plans to re-open the State of Indiana, school-sponsored summer activities may resume on July 1, 2020.

Last week, the Indiana Department of Education had announced that school facilities would be closed through the end of June and the IHSAA had indicated it would keep the annual one-week break from school sports activities.

In a release on Wednesday, the IHSAA announced those plans have been revised. The shutdown will continue through June 30, the end of the IHSAA calendar, but will be rescinded after that date.

Here is the IHSAA release:

“Recently, Dr. Jennifer McCormick, State Superintendent of Public Instruction clarified the school closure order which ends on June 30, 2020. June 30 is the end of the traditionally defined school year in our state; therefore, school buildings are to remain closed through June 30, 2020. In light of this directive, the Indiana High School Athletic Association is hereby suspending any school sponsored athletic activities through June 30, 2020. School sponsored activities are any school authorized activities directed, observed or instructed by the school’s coaching staff regardless of the location. This includes any conditioning, skills development and associated activities through the end of June. Conditioning and during the school year activities may only occur in or on school property, subsequently, these activities are hereby suspended.

“Rule 15-3.4 of the IHSAA by-laws provides that a moratorium week shall be observed on the Monday through Sunday which includes July 4. July 1, 2020, would normally fall during the prescribed moratorium week. In light of the amount of time students have been restricted from school and contact with their teammates and coaches, the association is hereby waiving Rule 15-3.4 for the year 2020. Therefore,contact with students under the provisions of Rule 15-3 may occur beginning on July 1, 2020, and continue through Saturday of Week 4 of the IHSAA calendar which is August 1, 2020.”

The IHSAA also clarified off-campus activities, which are still forbidden through June 30 in most situations.

“Summer open facility program must be conducted on campus or at a site where home contests are regularly held. For example, a school cannot conduct a summer open facility session at the local batting cage for its students wishing to work on their baseball skills but could hold summer open facility session at a municipal field if that is where the school regularly held its home contests.”