AIA cancels all spring high school sports in Arizona

The Arizona Interscholastic Association announced it has canceled all spring high school sports Monday after Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said all schools would be closed for the rest of the school year.

“This is an unfortunate circumstance for all of our member schools, students and coaches,” AIA Executive Director David Hines said in a release. “We know this decision was a hard one, but one that was necessary to assist in the well-being of everyone across Arizona. We hope everyone stays healthy and focused on what the next chapter will bring.”

The AIA also is cancelling all sport-related activities, including esports. It added that esports teams can continue to play in scrimmage mode.

“We really feel for everyone involved with our schools,” AIA Executive Board President Jeannine Brandel said in the release. “So many have worked very hard for their chance to win a state championship, especially this year’s seniors. But we encourage you to still be students and to still be athletes. Strive to better yourselves during this time.”

Ducey and Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman on Monday announced the decision to keep the state’s public district and charter schools closed for the remainder of the scheduled year.

They issued the following joint statement, saying the decision was made now to “give parents and educators as much certainty as possible”:

“In alignment with yesterday’s updated federal guidance, today we are announcing the extension of school closures through the remainder of the school year. Today’s announcement is intended to give parents and educators as much certainty as possible so they can plan and make decisions. While this isn’t the outcome any of us wanted, we are grateful for the partnership of schools around the state, who have stepped up to offer virtual and take-home learning opportunities for our students. These efforts are crucial, and we recognize that schools are making every effort possible to continue providing instruction during closures. We also thank our legislative partners for passing legislation ensuring all educators and staff see no disruption in pay. Our number one priority will continue to be health and safety, and we will continue to work closely with public health officials to make the best decisions for kids, families, and our school communities.”

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