LIHU‘E — Kauai Pop Warner has decided to postpone registration for the upcoming season, but organizers say Pop Warner has not canceled the upcoming football or cheer season.
The organization recently announced weekly registration for the upcoming 2020 season, which was set to begin August 1 — however the league is still exploring options for play during the pandemic, according to Kaua‘i Pop Warner President Teddy Arroyo.
The league is awaiting word from Kaua‘i County to receive usage permits and to see what the Hawai‘i Athletic Association decides regarding Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation (KIF) football’s ability to conduct preseason workouts.
The recent upswing in COVID-19 cases on Kaua‘i has caused concern for everyone involved with Pop Warner, Arroyo said.
“It throws a curve ball into us being able to open the whole program,” Arroyo said. “We are working everything out, but nothing is guaranteed.”
In the most recent HHSAA press release, HHSAA, the state governing body of the KIF, said on June 17 that all interscholastic practices were added to the list of suspended activities.
The HHSAA hasn’t publicly stated when they evaluate conditions to determine when school-sanctioned sports can continue preseason workouts.
Arroyo emphasized in his conversation with The Garden Island newspaper they will put the safety of their participants first.
The Big Island Pop Warner League chose to scrap its 2020 season slated for early August.
A recent BIPWFC release on their Facebook page stated the following: “The decision was made to cancel the 2020 Pop Warner tackle season. A motion to commence with our tackle season failed by a 2-9 vote. All presidents, as well as the commissioners present, were extremely disappointed. However, the safety and well-being of our entire island proved to be paramount.”
The league wants to be cautious as they attempt to move forward with having a season, putting the safety of its participants first, Arroyo said.
“We are recommending the safety of the kids first,” Arroyo said. “We don’t want to be part of the problem, we want to be part of the solution. Right now, one of our main focuses is in winning the COVID-19 battle.”
