Dear MHSAA Community,

We hope this email finds you and your family safe and healthy. 

Please see the cover memo with an important update and the MHSAA/NFHS Guidance for Reopening School Sports document at this link:

Guidance 05-29-20.pdf

The MHSAA will continue to provide regular updates and information in the days ahead during these unprecedented and fluid times.

Thank you.

Mark Uyl
MHSAA Executive Director
mark@mhsaa.com
Phone: 517-332-5046
MHSAA.com

Dear MHSAA Community,

The MHSAA hopes this email finds you and your family healthy and safe.

Next week, the MHSAA will be providing a comprehensive update that will include further guidance from state government and health department officials, along with the document “MHSAA Guidance for Opening School Sports” that will assist schools with procedures and protocols as we transition into summer activity when permitted by Governor Whitmer.  This guidance document has been a collaborative effort between the MHSAA, National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the MHSAA and NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory committees which both include physicians, other medical professionals and school administrators.  We hope more definite details will be available next week with the current state of emergency order set to expire on May 28 which may or may not be extended.  The one thing we have learned over the past nine weeks is this continues to be a fluid situation, and we simply wanted to alert you that further details and the guidance document will be coming to you by May 29.

We wish you and your family a safe Memorial Day weekend.  The MHSAA will be connecting with you again next week.

Thank you.

Mark Uyl
MHSAA Executive Director
mark@mhsaa.com
Phone: 517-332-5046
MHSAA.com

HERE is the link to the new Health Questionnaire from the MHSAA. This is the new form that students who had a valid sport physical in 2019-20 (completed on or after April 15, 2019) can complete with required signatures to meet the pre-participation health status requirement in 2020-21.

Dear MHSAA Family:

Below you will find the media release announcing the MHSAA’s decision to cancel all 2019-20 winter and spring tournaments and sport seasons.  This was based on protecting the health, safety and well-being of students, teachers, coaches, support staff, officials, media members, parents, fans and families.  It follows the Governor’s order of April 2 and will allow member schools to put all attention, energy and resources into online learning experiences for the next two months.  This is a public health crisis and the MHSAA, like many others, is putting public health first.

We wanted to alert you to this news before the public announcement.  Thank you for all that you do for school sports in our state.

Mark Uyl
MHSAA Executive Director
mark@mhsaa.com
Phone: 517-332-5046
MHSAA.com

MHSAA Cancels Remainder of 2019-20 Winter & Spring Seasons

EAST LANSING, Mich. – April 3 – The Michigan High School Athletic Association has canceled the remainder of the 2019-20 Winter and Spring sports seasons, in compliance with the Thursday (April 2) “state of disaster” directive by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer closing school buildings and moving education online for the remainder of the school year to help decrease the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

This will be the first school year to not see MHSAA Finals played in multiple sports since 1942-43, when World War II led to the elimination of Finals in most sports.

The MHSAA on March 12 suspended its girls and boys basketball, girls gymnastics, boys ice hockey and boys swimming & diving tournaments amid COVID-19 concerns. All activity in all sports was halted March 13. Spring sports to that point had begun practice, but not competition.

The MHSAA’s Representative Council approved during its Winter Meeting on March 27 a series of concepts for completing the Winter tournaments and an abbreviated Spring season, contingent on the lifting of a statewide quarantine. The closure of school buildings into June made those possibilities void.

The MHSAA’s Executive Committee, comprised of officers of the larger Council, affirmed the decision today (April 3) to cancel the remainder of this school year’s activities.

“We are heartbroken to not be able to provide these opportunities for Michigan’s student-athletes, and especially seniors. We continue to hear from dozens asking us to hold out hope. But safety always must come first, and Governor Whitmer is making courageous decisions to safeguard the people of our state,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “We understand as much as anyone how much school sports mean to athletes and their communities. We had ideas and hopes for finishing Winter and Spring and helping bring some sort of normalcy after this long break. But this is the correct decision, and we will play our part in bringing schools and communities together again when the time is right.”

“For now, we cannot state strongly enough that all students, staffs and others follow the guidelines established to slow the spread of this virus – we all must do our part.”

Because the five Winter sports were not able to conclude with Finals, no champions will be awarded in those sports for 2019-20. However, championships won at earlier rounds of those tournaments (District or Regional) will continue to stand.

The MHSAA will in coming weeks provide guidelines and other information pertinent to this unusual offseason as attention is turned to preparing for Fall 2020.

MHSAA Suspends Winter Tournaments Amid COVID-19 Concerns

EAST LANSING, Mich. – March 12 – Postseason events sponsored by the Michigan High School Athletic Association have been suspended immediately and indefinitely due to concerns related to COVID-19.

The Ice Hockey, Girls Gymnastics and Lower Peninsula Boys Swimming & Diving Finals had been scheduled for this weekend, while the Girls & Boys Basketball Tournaments are midway through earlier rounds of their playoff progressions.

On Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recommended a stoppage of large gatherings in order to assist in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

“Based on the events of the last 48 hours and with things changing by the minute, we believe we have no choice but to suspend our winter tournaments immediately,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “This is a suspension until we have a better handle on the situation. The health and welfare of everyone involved is our number one priority.”

Uyl added that more information and updates will be forthcoming over the next few days. No timetable has been determined for possible rescheduling for tournaments.

Mark Uyl
MHSAA Executive Director
mark@mhsaa.com
Phone: 517-332-5046
MHSAA.com

The MHSAA is working with state and local health authorities to monitor the developing COVID-19 situation in Michigan. At this time, all MHSAA postseason tournament events will be played as scheduled. We encourage people to follow the CDC guidance regarding hand-washing, personal hygiene and staying home when sick.

We are continually monitoring this situation. If it becomes necessary to make adjustments to MHSAA tournament events, decisions will be made to ensure a healthy and safe environment for everyone involved.

For the most up-to-date information, go to www.mhsaa.com/coronavirus.

Mark Uyl
MHSAA Executive Director
Phone: 517-332-5046
Email: mark@mhsaa.com
Website: www.mhsaa.com