PIAA throws out wildcard, moves fall season back two weeks

In what has been very much like a poker game, the PIAA was handed what look like a bad deal. Today they threw a wildcard on the table and move the season back two weeks during an emergency board meeting after Governor Wolf announced he is recommending all sports for the fall stop until January 1 of 2021. Bill Marshall from district 6 jumped out during the first part of the public meeting and recommended they move this season back two weeks to obtain clarification on starting fall sports safely, the motion was seconded and with that the meeting ended.

The PIAA immediately released a statement stating that sports should continue on a voluntary basis for the next two weeks. They will meet again on August 21. Between now and then voluntary workouts per the governor’s guidance for all sports and with local approval may continue mandatory for sports activities are paused for the two week period and the PIAA remains committed to providing a season for each of the fall sports during the 2020 to 2021 school year.

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During the open media session, Bob Lombardi said they will reach out to the Governors office to discuss Wolfs statement and recommendations about having not sports until Jan 1.   He said they’re not kicking the can down the road, they’re hitting the pause button to seek further clarification.  The next 2 weeks they will meet with general assembly, DOH, Governor and state, and try to work together about starting fall sports safely. If things don’t work out, they will do everything they can to get all three seasons in. Right now football would start Sept. 11 with heat acclimation beginning on Aug 24.

Lombardi said the fact that Governor Wolf said the Jan. 1 statement was a recommendation and not a mandate makes a difference. He said if it was a mandate, there would likely not have been any delay to research the situation.

Today’s result was a good move by the PIAA. There is a lot of building pressure all over the state to open up schools and fall sports. This also shows the PIAA is supportive of the pleas of the players, fans and parents. Lombardi also noted that over the past 24 hours they have received over 7,500 emails.

What todays announcement means for teams you are basically in summer mode…Team 7v7 cmpetitions can continue UNTIL 10 days before the new heat acc date, Aug 24 so basically, you’re back in summer workout mode until Aug 14 when your 10 days begins.