COLUMBUS, Ohio — High school athletes all across Ohio are waiting to see if their seasons will be canceled due to COVID-19.
On Wednesday afternoon the Ohio High School Athletic Association released a memo for when we could potentially see Ohio's five spring sports sports (baseball, softball, track and field, tennis, and lacrosse) return. OHSAA executive director Jerry Snodgrass emphasized that this is dependent on schools returning to session. If school is canceled for the rest of the academic year then spring sports will also be canceled.
If schools return to session by May 4 then the tentative day that spring sports season would begin would be on May 9.
Coaches and players are also in a non-contact period until May 1. Practices and group workouts are not allowed during that time. However, Snodgrass is encouraging coaches to communicate electronically with their players to give them workout ideas and keep them up to date.
Of course, pushing back that start of the season by over a month will impact when state tournaments are played. If the season starts on May 9 the OHSAA is eyeing the following dates for their state tournaments in spring sports.
-Baseball (State tournament June 19-21)
-Softball (State tournament June 25-27)
-Lacrosse (State final June 13)
-Tennis (State tournament June 18-20)
-Track and Field (State meet June 26-27)
Canceling a state tournament is something almost unprecedented by the OHSAA. For example the OHSAA has held the boys state track and field meet every year since 1908. The baseball state tournament has happened every year since 1928.
