NJSIAA: Winter High School Sports Will Play With No Spectators

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ — When high school winter sports competition kicks off in December, the games likely will be held without spectators, under guidelines issued by the NJSIAA on Tuesday.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, the governing body for high school sports in the state, confirmed it will move ahead with Season 2, the abbreviated winter sports season, following Monday's announcement by Gov. Phil Murphy that indoor sports could resume immediately in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more: Indoor Sports Can Resume In NJ Amid Coronavirus, Gov. Says

The season for winter sports — basketball, wrestling, ice hockey, swimming, bowling, and indoor track and field — that the NJSIAA is calling Season 2, will start practice Dec. 3, with competition starting Dec. 21 and ending Feb. 3. The NJSIAA will host postseason competition from Feb. 5 to Feb. 17.

The NJSIAA said the number of people permitted at a practice or competition will be limited to 25 percent of the capacity of the room, "with such limit not to exceed 25 persons or be less than 10 persons."

"If the number of individuals who are necessary for the practice or competition, such as players, coaches and referees, is greater than 25 persons, the practice or competition may proceed as long as no individuals are present who are not necessary for the event," the NJSIAA said.

That means there will be no spectators allowed, at least at the start of the season.

"(The) NJSIAA will continue its discussions with the governor’s office and the NJ DOH and will update its guidance in this regard if capacity limitations are amended," the NJSIAA said.

Teams will be limited to 15 regular-season games or meets, including holiday tournaments, and two per week, with two three-game weeks permitted. Out-of-state competition is prohibited.

Multi-team events, such as basketball tournaments and wrestling quad meets, are still under discussion with the state health department, the NJSIAA said. A decision on those won't be made until closer to the start of the season or even once the season starts, officials said.

The NJSIAA hopes to offer postseason competition "to any school wishing to participate." Depending on the sport, the postseason will be structured regionally based on counties or based on NJSIAA sections.

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