Coronavirus: MA School Spring Sports Start Pushed To April 27

MANSFIELD, MA — The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association voted to target April 27 as the first day of high school spring practices in hopes of salvaging a season amid the coronavirus pandemic. The MIAA, which declared co-champions in basketball and hockey when the winter season state championship games were canceled, had previously moved the start of the spring season from March 16 to March 30.

The MIAA Board of Directors made the decision "in light of recent mandates from Governor (Charlie) Baker and recommendations from governing health agencies." On Sunday, Gov. Baker issued a mandate that all schools in the state be closed for three weeks starting Tuesday.

The MIAA has set an end date of the spring season of June 20 (with June 21 as a rain date), meaning that any spring high school sports season in the state will be severely truncated. Athletes are generally required to have at least 10 practices before the first official game of any season, which would leave at most about seven weeks for a regular season and any playoffs.

The MIAA said details regarding the regarding the structure of the spring season will be determined by the Tournament Management Committee, which will update the Board of Directors on their recommendations March 25.

"These decisions are based on available information and our made in the best interest of our student-athletes, schools and communities," the MIAA said in a statement. "These decisions will be revisited and adjusted as needed."

The MIAA thanked its member schools for "their patience while dealing with this very fluid situation."

The winter high school sports season in Massachusetts ended with state co-champions in each division of basketball and hockey after the MIAA decided on March 12 to cancel all state finals scheduled for this past weekend at TD Garden and the DCU Center in Worcester amid escalating coronavirus fears. The final two games were played in front of no fans on March 12 at Worcester State University to determine the Division 4 girls and Division 3 boys co-champions.