Pennsylvania Governor Recommending No Sports Until January 1, 2021; Would Affect Swimming
Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf, at the end of his Thursday press conference, recommended that there should be no sports in the state until January 1, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What is unclear is whether Wolf was referencing sports at all levels, or if was he discussing high school sports, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA).
States throughout the country have made various decisions regarding high school sports in recent weeks, ranging from staying with the original starting schedule to canceling seasons. The in-between decision has been to push back the fall season by several weeks, or to move it to between the winter and spring seasons.
Release from @GovernorTomWolf pic.twitter.com/Fz04nZaVIN
— Tom Reisenweber (@ETNreisenweber) August 6, 2020
The PIAA stated that it would hold a Zoom meeting later in the day on Thursday and would respond to Governor Wolf’s statement. Because Wolf said January 1 was a recommendation, it is uncertain if the PIAA can act on its own and conduct seasons prior to that date. Until now, the PIAA has decided to move ahead with fall sports, but some individual leagues around Pennsylvania have taken it upon themselves to postpone the start of seasons by several weeks.
In Pennsylvania, which ranks as one of the top swimming states in the country, swimming is a winter sport, with competition typically starting in early December. Practices, however, begin earlier, and the sport would be affected by Wolf’s decision, if indeed his recommendation becomes a mandate.
Utterly ridiculous and does not take into account how vastly different the rest of the state is outside of Philly and Pittsburgh. There are guidelines in place. Work within the guidelines and live life
My friends there have not ceased youth sports…they are doing summer sports such as softball and attending sports camps…no distancing and no masks…so?????
Jamie Morrall-Kulasinsky
Yikes!
Does recommending mean you don’t have to follow it? Asking for a friend.
Carmen Botha
BS
‘Ray Bucknell
Just foolish!!!!
Ouch!
Holly Hughes Merkh Crawford
Remember there are elections. If you don’t like what’s going on in your state … just sayin’
Stepping over the line, Wolf.
Just kill the sport why don’t you ? This is absolutely ridiculous!
Wolf is an IDIOT
Our kids (and adults) benefit far more from social interaction and exercise than they do sitting at home and wearing masks. The downside of keeping kids out of sports is far greater than the upside of shutting them out of their sports.
I live 10 minutes from where the PIAA Swimming Championships are held at Bucknell U..Today the PIAA has an emergency meeting to respond back to Governor Wolf..
Just in from the PIAA
No one gives two $&@.:; about Pennsylvania
thats why we should wear Cowboys masks…we wont have to worry about catching anything
Fury hath no wrath like a Swim Parent scorned…
Another idiot Governor