RI Fall School Sports Start Date Pushed To Sept. 14

The fall school sports season has been delayed at least one month as the Rhode Island Interscholastic League awaits state guidance on what sports — if any — will be allowed under its coronavirus crisis guidelines in 2020.

The RIIL announced Wednesday morning that it was moving the first day of practice from Aug. 17 to Sept. 14 to "allow our schools to reopen for education before athletics are brought into the equation." Gov. Gina Raimondo has targeted Aug. 31 as the first day of school with an in-classroom option being the preference, if state coronavirus metrics allow.

"We have remained consistent in our message that the RIIL will not get ahead of schools that need to reopen and the governor's guidance for school sports, which is why we have been adamant to not release any information publicly to date," RIIL president Michael Lunney said. "As you know, things are changing rapidly concerning the impact of COVID-19."

Lunney said the health and safety of athletes, coaches, school personnel and officials remain the top priorities and that task forces have been meeting throughout the summer on contingency plans based on what, if any, sports will be allowed to start the school year.

"It's very clear from the feedback that our member schools support the educational value and mental health benefits that high school sports provide RI student-athletes," Lunney said.

The RIIL said a framework is being created to allow maximum flexibility to adjust — including pushing start dates back and the possibility of playing some traditional fall sports in the spring.

Lunney said the RIIL will not make any final decision on what fall sports will be offered, if any, until after Aug. 17 when the state announces its decision on whether the start of the school academic year on Aug. 31 will include in-classroom learning or not.

The RIIL bristled back at a report in the Providence Journal that detailed which sports might be allowed the fall.

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