Coronavirus: All Ohio high school spring sports canceled

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Following that announcement, the OHSAA informed members of its decision, though it had previously said sports would be canceled if schools did not return to in-person learning this school year.

The cancelation of spring sports comes after winter tournaments were paused and then canceled near the beginning of the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus.

A no-contact period for all interscholastic sports is in effect until May 3 but could be extended.

OHSAA executive director Jerry Snodgrass said in a release aspects of fall sports that begin in the summer are being evaluated.

“July is a very physical month for our student-athletes entering fall sports, so we have already started looking at, if this continues through the summer, we’ll have the potential of having a lot of kids who haven’t had the physical activity that they would normally have going into a fall season,” Snodgrass said. “So for the health and safety of everyone, we have to look at the acclimation periods going into the fall, if that happens. We have to be prepared for that.”

He also noted the organization is aware prospective athletes could have trouble getting annual physicals typically required to be allowed to play a school sport.

“We have a sport medicine advisory group that is looking at that,” Snodgrass said. “They are looking at all aspects such as whether artificial surfaces need to be treated. We are relying on the advice of experts in our decision making.”