The Missouri State High School Activities Association has opened the door for some limited sports competitions to take place during the summer. The MSHSAA Board approved a change to its by-laws to extend eligibility of seniors through the summer. It has also eliminated the nine-day “dead period” at the beginning of summer when coaches and players cannot be in contact, and changes other rules about how many days of contact are allowed.
The changes are all dependent upon state and local authorities allowing sports competitions to take place.
The ruling does not mean all schools will be shifting their full spring seasons to summer, but it does allow the possibility of some limited play between schools. Those decisions are being left to individual schools, and Republic Activities Director Trevyor Fisher said he and other ADs from the Central Ozark Conference have informally begun discussing the issue.
“As a conference, we may meet next week to share ideas and see what everyone is thinking, so we’re all consistent,” he said.
In a release, MSHSAA Executive Director Dr. Kerwin Urhahn said schools have been asking for some flexibility in allowing some competitions during the summer.
“The abrupt changes that took place to our normal system of education this spring, have our schools pleading for access to students this summer,” Urhahn said. “The membership asked about what possible flexibility and modifications to by-law restrictions that could be offered. If there is no local, state, or national clearance for safe contact with students, then any allowances dealing with summer will be moot. But, in an effort to be prepared for what we hope is possible, this action was taken to grant some relief for the member schools.”
MSHSAA said the changes do not affect the dead period at the end of summer, scheduled for August 3-9, the week before fall sports practices are to begin.