High-school sports still on hold

Published 12:17 pm Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

While the state will be partially re-opening this week, there is no change for high-school sports teams.

On Monday, governor Brian Kemp announced that some businesses, including gyms, would be able to re-open with restrictions.

That does not apply to gyms and other facilities on school campuses, though, and Georgia High School Association executive director Robin Hines drove that point home on Tuesday.

High-school sports activities have been suspended in the state for more than a month, and that hasn’t changed.

“I am aware of the opening of hair and nail salons, gyms, and soon restaurants by the governor,” Hines said in a statement. “This did not include schools and school gyms, (and they) are not to be opened until schools are opened and the GHSA has given the “all clear” for activities to resume. I have received numerous calls, emails and texts regarding the governor’s comments and school gyms are not the kind of gyms he is referring to. He is referring to Edge, Gold’s, Planet Fitness, etc. The guidance for GHSA sports and activities is that they are all suspended until further notice. Schools are closed, activities are suspended. You will be contacted the moment this changes. I realize you are ready to return, as am I, but I ask your patience during these unprecedented times.”

On March 12, the GHSA recommended that all sports activities be put on hold, and that was the last day there were any games involving Troup County sports teams.

On April 2, the GHSA announced that all of the spring-sports seasons would be canceled.

Earlier this month, Hines said he wasn’t sure when teams would be able to start getting together again.

“I am hoping for the best but there is no information available that would allow for any decision regarding when practices and workouts will be allowed,” Hines said.

The fall sports seasons are scheduled to begin in August, and Troup head football coach Tanner Glisson said he’ll be prepared for whatever happens.

“I think the Georgia High School Association is working on three different plans,” Glisson said. “They’re working on a plan for June, a plan for coming back in July, and the worst-case scenario is trying to come back in August. So we have to set up plans just like that, and start with June, July, and August, and if we start here this is what we’ll do, and if we start here this is what we’ll do.”

In addition to football, the softball, cross-country and volleyball seasons are also in the fall.