Prep state champions won’t be crowned

Unprecedented times are calling for unprecedented measures, and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association has taken action accordingly.

As a result, high school state champions won’t be crowned this year. If postseason tournaments are held, regional groupings will be formed.

That’s one of several changes the WIAA Board of Control approved during a nearly four-hour meeting last Friday in determining how to hold sports during the Covid-19 pandemic.

For schools not comfortable with teens playing sports this fall, a one-year alternative is offered to play a seven-week season in spring, according to a release from the WIAA.

Football programs unable to start or complete 50% of the fall season, including games and practices, are eligible for a prorated alternate season. Other fall sports unable to start or complete half of the fall season, including games and practices, are eligible for a complete alternate season.

Any fall sports programs that play half of their seasons or more will be considered to have completed a season.

Schools will be required to initially declare if they plan to participate in the traditional fall season or the alternate fall season in the spring by Sept. 1.

Port Washington, Grafton, Ozaukee and Cedar Grove-Belgium high schools all plan to hold fall sports this fall.

In turn, winter and spring sports seasons have been shortened.

The revised sports calendar replaces the existing 2020-21 season calendars and identifies — in addition to an alternate fall season in the spring with seven weeks of competition — a period of no coaching contact prior to the start of the respective sport seasons; an acclimatization or practice period before the first allowed competition; and the designated number of weeks for the winter and spring seasons, including any culminating event.

The Board of Control also released a number of rules and regulations to be modified or suspended in 2020-21 to provide flexibility to members and licensed officials during the pandemic:

• If tournament series are conducted, regional groupings will be implemented (four teams in football).

• The minimum number of contests required for tournament eligibility will be suspended.

• Tournament series seeding will be conducted online.

•  Nonborder out-of-state competitions or practices are strongly discouraged.

•  All multiple-team events from outside a host’s region are strongly discouraged.

•  Co-op programs that include schools that are unable to participate in activities may seek other co-op partners to provide opportunities for participation.

•  With conference approval, schools whose conference has canceled sports may seek schedule relief with other conferences as an independent without sanctions or going through the prescribed conference realignment process.

•  Programs may schedule contests after they are eliminated from the WIAA tournament or culminating event respective sport’s revised season.

•  Schools that were unable to conduct their five unrestricted coaching contact days during summer may schedule those days during the 2020-21 calendar provided there is one week of no contact prior to the start of the respective season. However, during the closed-session meeting, the Board of Control directed staff members to have discussions on coaching contacts during 2020-21 placed on the agenda for the September meeting.

•  Licensed officials will not drop in classification in 2021-22 if they choose not to renew licensure or are unable to fill a varsity schedule. in 2020-21.

The Board of Control determined that student-athletes may compete in no more than two nonschool events with school approval during each regular sports season in 2020-21 only. An event will be defined as a game or tournament.

These schedules and plans may not be final.

The Board of Control acknowledges all schedules are subject to change if conditions warrant in accordance with local, state and national health guidelines.

In addition, the WIAA released its “Return to Fall Sports Considerations,” a 23-page document that is “to provide assistance to athletic administrators as they prepare for athletic events.”

The considerations, according to the document, “are not considered best practices; instead they are based on a review of available guidance from multiple reputable sources.” The source listed was the “Covid-19 Considerations for Sport and Entertainment Venues and Events” from the University of Southern Mississippi National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security.

The WIAA’s considerations “are designed to stimulate critical thinking and help inform decision-making.”

The document provides sport-by-sport details on holding competitions — such as asking swimmers to wear masks until they are on the starting blocks and after they exit the water ­­— and includes a medical clearance form for participating in sports after a positive Covid-19 test or after displaying symptoms of the coronavirus.

Student-athletes who have tested positive for Covid-19 should self-quarantine immediately and not return to competition until 10 days after the last positive test and having no symptoms of the virus, including a fever of 100.4 degrees or more. Written clearance from a health care provider is required.

The document suggests that fans and other personnel at games wear face coverings and have seating arrangments that allow for social distancing.

For more information, visit www.wiaawi.org.