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While many top states have cancelled spring sports for this year, Texas athletic officials are still trying to make it work to hold championships, including those in softball.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL), which oversees public schools in the Long Star State for athletics, musical and academic contests, has not given up hope yet that the championships can still be staged this spring.
Last Friday, the UIL issued a statement recognizing that nothing will be done for the next three and a half weeks with schools “remaining temporarily closed through Monday, May 4, 2020,” but has not yet pulled the plug like California and other states across the nation have done including Alabama, Michigan, Georgia, Indiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma and New Mexico and several more.
Quoted in an article published this week in the Dallas Morning News, UIL Deputy Director Jamey Harrison said that if schools would be reopened after the May 4 day there are strategies in place “that would allow us to complete all of our state championship activities for this academic year, should that opportunity present itself.”
Harrison told the Dallas Morning News: “We will communicate very quickly with schools what those plans include, what all the various deadlines will be. We will continue to stay in touch with the state legislature and the governor, the commissioner of education, all of those entities that come to bear on decisions about school closure. We’re ready to pivot this way or that, as needed, once we have more information from those agencies.”
The UIL stated in last week’s release that if sports such as softball are able to get back on field, no matter how much of the season has been lost, the UIL would allow time for practices to be held prior to the restart of the season and/or playoffs.
“(The) UIL remains committed to providing a reasonable acclimatization period for rehearsals and practices to occur prior to resuming contests and games,” an excerpt from the release stated.
UIL Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt said in a video message recorded in late March that sports will begin once school is back in session.
“I know you’re anxious, I’m anxious for you … especially if you’re a parent of seniors who are finishing their high school careers,” he said. “Our staff is working around the clock to do all they can to make these activities alive again. As soon as school can resume, we’ll continue the UIL competitions for the 2020 school year.”
Representatives from TAPPS, which oversees the private schools in the state, also haven’t shut the door on the season, stating that the May 4 date is the earliest the athletes at the private schools could return to practice
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Here is the complete release issued by the UIL on Friday, April 3, 2020 regarding “Suspension of Activities Due to COVID-19”…
In accordance with the Executive Order issued by Governor Greg Abbott mandating schools remain temporarily closed through Monday, May 4, 2020 due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the University Interscholastic League (UIL) is further modifying contingency plans and extending its previously announced timeline for completing UIL activities this academic school year.
These modifications are based on schools resuming operations on Monday, May 4, 2020. As that date approaches, UIL will monitor all available information and provide member schools with more specific guidance on district and post-season date adjustments related to this new extension.
All in-person practices, rehearsals and workouts remain suspended until further notice and remote instruction remains in place. UIL remains committed to providing a reasonable acclimatization period for rehearsals and practices to occur prior to resuming contests and games. All decisions remain flexible and will be consistent with the advice of local, state and federal officials.
The UIL will continue to provide timely, ongoing updates and is reassessing this ever-changing situation daily. Please continue to check the UIL website and social media accounts for further updates.