COVID Means High School Winter Sports Have New Start Dates

There is mixed news for student-athletes in Michigan as many will have to wait a little longer to start their seasons. Restriction on contact sports were extended just a bit longer because of the continuing spread of COVID-19. 

Fox 17 reported that yesterday, Thursday, the Michigan High School Athletic Association announced new start and end dates for boys and girls basketball, ice hockey, competitive cheer, and wrestling.

The MHSAA said that teams in all five sports may begin non-contact practices this Saturday, January 16, and contact practices can begin Monday, February 1, when the current epidemic order extension is scheduled to expire.

What about High school hockey? Teams will get the first crack at competitions, with games allowed to start on the same day as contact practices, Monday, February 1.

Boys and girls basketball games can tip off on February 4. Competitive cheer and wrestling matches are permitted starting on February 8.

And, of course, because of the delayed start, the dates for postseason tournaments have also been pushed back.

Competitive cheer, hockey, and wrestling state tournaments all start on March 15. Hockey and competitive cheer will both hold state finals on March 27. Wrestling team finals are set for March 31; individual finals are April 2 & 3.

Girls basketball will start district competition on March 22, with the boys starting one day later. The girls season will wrap up April 9. The boys finish on April 10.

The updated schedule means the best teams will play into or through their school's spring break. Sorry kids.

And, spring sports? That has not been changed, with practices scheduled to begin on March 15.