Athletes and coaches around Indiana have been waiting, and Wednesday they finally received an update.
The IHSAA announced that it is waiving its moratorium week, which was originally scheduled from June 29 to July 4, and will allow school-sponsored athletic activities to resume on July 1.
Normally, the IHSAA would not grant permission for programs to gather during its yearly moratorium period.
But an exception has been made — which will permit teams to host events one day after the 2019-20 school year ends on June 30 — due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The IHSAA’s decision is still contingent on Gov. Eric Holcomb’s plans to gradually reopen the state over the next two months.
“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,” the IHSAA stated in a press release. “Therefore; contact with students under the provisions of Rule 15-3 may occur beginning on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 and continue through Saturday of Week 4 of the IHSAA calendar which is August 1, 2020.”
In a statement from IHSAA, the organization cited Dr. Jennifer McCormick, State Superintendent of Public Instruction who clarified schools in Indiana are ordered closed until June 30. That date is the “end of the traditionally defined school year” in Indiana and school buildings will remain closed until July 1.
IHSAA says school-sponsored activities are “any school authorized activities directed, observed or instructed by the school’s coaching staff regardless of the location.” That includes activities such as conditioning or skills development.
Schools are also not allowed to have a Summer Open Facility session off-campus or at another location that is not owned by the school.
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.
Question 15-56 of the IHSAA by-laws provides the following:
Q. 15-56 Can a School have a Summer Open Facility session “off-campus”, or at a location which is not owned by or officially controlled by the School?
A. No, like a Limited Contact Program, a 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.
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.
Rule 15-3.4 of the IHSAA by-laws provide that a moratorium week shall be observed on Monday through Sunday which includes July 4th. July 1, 2020, would normally fall during the prescribed moratorium week.
In light of the number of times 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 Wednesday, July 1, 2020, and continue through Saturday of Week 4 of the IHSAA calendar which is August 1, 2020.
