Winter Contact Sports Are Back.

Written Thursday February 4th at 4:30 PM

Winter contact sports are back.

During her press conference on Thursday afternoon, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that she along with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) was going to allow contact Winter Sports to start practicing and competing Monday with safeguards in place.

Participants including players, coaches, and staff are required to wear a mask during in play and on the bench. Those sports without masks, particularly wrestling will be required to go through COVID-19 testing.

The MDHHS recommended that players only allow two per player for spectators or 250 for smaller venues, 500 for bigger venues.

The five contact sports include Boys and Girls Basketball, Wrestling, Hockey, and Competitive Cheer

Contact sports were banned on November 18^th when Whitmer and then director Robert Gordon announced “the pause.” The remaining fall sports were paused played a few weeks ago because the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced that there was an antigen testing program that tested the remaining fall sports athletes that were still playing. 

Today was a great day for everyone involved, players, parents, coaches, staff, athletic directors, superintendents. 

Important Dates.

Basketball/hockey: Monday Feb 8^th (Practices/Competitions)

Cheer/Wrestling: Friday Feb 12^th (Practices/Competitions)

MHSAA Tournaments remain in place

Cheer/Hockey March 27^th

Wrestling April 2^nd/3^rd

Basketball (will run together) Girls M/W/F Boys T/R/S Girls April 9^th, Boys April 10^th

Face masks worn at all times (Basketball/Hockey/Cheer)

Wrestling- MDHHS (rapid testing on days of meets) compete One to Two times a week

Cheer- masks (only time masks come off when tumbling/stumbling), without an opponent, physical contact.

Basketball six weeks of regular season, three games a week. (Can play when teams are eliminated.) 

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.