Against Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s “strong recommendation” to hold off high school sports until Jan. 2021, the PIAA voted to move ahead with fall sports in Board of Directors meeting on Friday afternoon.
The board voted 25-5 to plan for the start of high school sports in the state on Aug. 24 for schools permitted to do so, despite Wolf’s recommendation regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The PIAA Board of Directors has heard the thousands of voices of student-athletes, parents, coaches, officials as well as community leaders that have contacted us. We remind those individuals who have strongly advocated for athletics that they must keep strict adherence to school health and safety plans. All individuals involved in interscholastic athletic communities have a role in the health and wellness of all participants,” a PIAA press release issued after the vote read.
The following audio is from the PIAA press conference after the board meeting, in two parts:
Wolf, when asked at a press conference on Aug. 6, said that high school sports should be put on hold until Jan. 1, 2021. He later clarified that while it is “a strong recommendation,” schools can “do what you want.”
With the PIAA vote, more than 300,000 students are cleared to begin fall sports if their schools are participating. Heat camp for football begins Monday.
Full PIAA release:
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