Winter Contact Sports To Begin Practice/Competition Next Week

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Winter Contact Sports To Begin Practice/Competition Next Week

Per an announcement by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan High School Athletic Association member schools may begin full practice activities in the Winter contact sports of basketball, ice hockey and wrestling on Monday, February 8, with some precautions to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Those three Winter contact sports have been able to practice since January 16, but only with non-contact activities.  MHSAA Tournament dates for all Winter sports previously were rescheduled into late March and early April to accommodate a later start to the regular season, and those dates appear below.  All Winter contact sports also must participate with some level of masking and/or rapid testing, also detailed sport-by-sport below.

All testing will be coordinated between schools and MDHHS or their local health departments. Following are specific precautions and key dates for those contact sports at the high school level. Participants are defined as athletes, coaches and other team personnel active in practice and competition.

Girls Basketball

  • Masking/Testing: All participants must wear face coverings at all times – during all practices and non-game activities, and during games. A testing requirement may allow participants to remove masks while in active participation on the floor if they test negative that game day; more details will be provided to schools when confirmed.
  • Spectator Limit:  Two (2) spectators may be allowed per participant.
  • Competition Limit: Teams may play up to three games per week, Monday through Sunday.
  • Regular Season Schedules: Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman
  • Tournament Dates:  Districts – March 22, 24, 26; Regionals – March 29, 31; Quarterfinals – April 5; Semifinals – April 7; Finals – April 9

Boys Basketball

  • Masking/Testing: All participants must wear face coverings at all times – during all practices and non-game activities, and during games. A testing requirement may allow participants to remove masks while in active participation on the floor if they test negative that game day; more details will be provided to schools when confirmed.
  • Spectator Limit:  Two (2) spectators may be allowed per participant.
  • Competition Limit: Teams may play up to three games per week, Monday through Sunday.
  • Regular Season Schedules: Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman
  • Tournament Dates:  Districts – March 23, 25, 27; Regionals – March 30, April 1; Quarterfinals – April 6; Semifinals – April 8; Finals – April 10

Ice Hockey

  • Masking/Testing: All participants must wear face coverings at all times – during all practices and non-game activities, and during games. A testing requirement may allow participants to remove masks while in active participation on the ice if they test negative that game day; more details will be provided to schools when confirmed.
  • Spectator Limit:  Two (2) spectators may be allowed per participant.
  • Competition Limit: Teams may play up to three games per week, Monday through Sunday. Teams also may play two games on one non-school day twice; during those two weeks, teams are allowed up to four games Monday through Sunday.
  • Regular Season Schedules: Varsity
  • Tournament Dates:  Regionals – March 15-20; Quarterfinals – March 23; Semifinals – March 25-26; Finals – March 27

Wrestling

  • Masking/Testing: Testing is required for wrestling, but competitors will not be required to wear face coverings.
  • Spectator Limit:  Two (2) spectators may be allowed per participant.
  • Competition Limit: Teams may compete two days per week, Monday through Sunday, with no more than four teams at a site (with each individual competing in up to three matches per day.)
  • Regular Season Schedules: Varsity
  • Tournament Dates:  Districts – March 15-20; Regionals – March 22-28; Team Finals – March 30; Individual Finals – April 2-3

The same masking and testing requirements will be in place for all junior high/middle school teams wishing to participate in the four Winter contact sports.