Michigan High School Athletic Association shares reopening update

EAST LANSING, Mich. –The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has updated its guidelines for reopening of school sports on the Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s lifting of her stay-at-home order and further recommendations announced Monday, June 1.

Update included the following:

• Member schools may begin summer activities at school facilities as long as two conditions are met (school administration has announced school facilities are open to students and staff and the academic school year has ended).
• Indoor facilities, including gymnasiums and weight rooms, remain closed. Swimming pools are included in this, although outdoor pools may be used for athletic activities.
• Only outdoor workouts and practices are allowed at this time following the physical distance guidance and outdoor limits of 100 or fewer if school district facilities are open.
• Competition is not yet allowed because participants must continue to follow social distancing.
• Balls may be used among groups of participants, but participants should clean such common equipment as permitted and continue to maintain proper hygiene and social distance.
• All MHSAA out-of-season summer coaching regulations continue to apply.
• Guidelines will continue to be updated based on directives from Governor Whitmer’s office.

“We were excited and encouraged by Governor Whitmer’s announcements Monday," MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. "The opportunity for outside gatherings of up to 100 allowed us to rework a number of guidelines that we had published Friday as part of the MHSAA/NFHS reopening document. Our schools have been cautiously eager to take this long-awaited first step. We will continue to provide updates in accordance with the Governor’s directives for reopening the state, always prioritizing safety for all involved in school sports programs.”