HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association executive board approved by majority vote to postpone the start of moderate- and high-risk fall sports to January 2021, which affects cheerleading, cross country, football, and girls volleyball.
Air riflery and bowling are classified as low-risk sports with the implementation of safety guidelines and are slated to proceed in the fall.
“The HHSAA will continue to work with our member leagues in determining where to place these affected sports,” said HHSAA Executive Director Chris Chun. “If our state can flatten the curve, hopefully, these sports will be able to be played at some point in the school year.”
The action by the board was based on public health and safety due to the rising number of positive COVID-19 cases statewide.
Additionally, other HHSAA-sanctioned sports classified as low-risk were not moved up on the calendar to avoid missed class time when students and teachers are adjusting to new routines at the start of the new school year.
Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff, the executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations, published an article Aug. 5, on a website called sportshigh.com, where she referenced the number of states, whose fall sports have currently were affected by COVID-19.
The article cited the latest NFHS 2020-21 Sports Seasons Modifications map, indicating that 31 state associations altered their sports offerings in the coming year.
Those modifications range from states delaying fall sports by a few weeks, to ten counties that will not be playing football until the winter or spring seasons, and five state associations (California, District of Columbia), Maryland, Nevada, Virginia) that will not have any sports until at least December.
“Certainly, revenue from high school football is crucial for schools and state associations, but finances are not driving decisions to return to play,” Niehoff said in a written statement.“Instead, the overarching reason that high schools and state associations are working with government, education, and health leaders to offer these programs is that many students desperately need these activities.”
