Governor Tate Reeves has announced the closure of all public schools in Mississippi until April 17. The Mississippi High School Activities Association followed with suspending all competition and practice in athletics until April 17.
MHSAA Director Don Hinton said, “As long as schools remain closed on a statewide basis return to competition and practice will not be an option.”
MHSAA announced events scheduled during this closure such as the State Archery Competition and Concert Band Championships have been canceled and will not be made up.
The MHSAA Executive Committee also voted to cancel spring football practice for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. The committee will consider adding an additional week of preseason practice for schools prior to the 2020 football season.
Simpson County coaches have done as much as possible for their players during the uncertainty surrounding athletics. Mendenhall High School Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Chuckie Allen said he and his staff have maintained communication with players. With the COVID-19 situation still evolving, coaches across the state are not allowed to have open workouts at facilities.
Allen was pleased that a lot of his players have been working out alone and still taking steps to get better. He said, “The kids who want to play, it’s having a real effect on them.” He spoke of the gains his team was able to accomplish in terms of strength and conditioning before spring break and how they should continue to work and maintain. For the second season in a row the Tigers will not play a spring game. Allen said, “It’s frustrating as a coach, but it’s not worth exposing people and taking a chance of getting people sick.”
Allen and the coaches have created a Facebook page for Tiger football players with suggested workouts and motivational posts to keep everyone engaged.
Decisions on the remainder of baseball season have yet to be announced. Approximately a month of baseball season remained before the school closures. Magee Head Baseball Coach Allen Eubanks said everything is at a standstill and there won’t be any new information until school resumes. At this time coaches have been instructed to have no physical contact with players. The MHSAA executive committee will meet once school resumes and discuss salvaging the remainder of baseball season. Scenarios have been discussed of only taking the top two teams from every district and condensing the playoffs, but nothing has been made official. Coaches and MHSAA officials will continue to monitor this situation as the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold.
