Governor to let IHSAA handle return of high school sports

Governor Brad Little’s 34-page “framework” for reopening Idaho’s schools this fall contained this lone sentence regarding his suggestion for the possible return of high school sports in Idaho:

“Follow the Idaho High School Activities Association guidelines for sporting events and practices.”

The IHSAA has been having committee meetings in each of the fall sports throughout the summer, discussing what extra precautions each sport could take should high school sports return this fall.

The final committee meetings are expected to be completed by next Tuesday, IHSAA executive director Ty Jones told The Press.

Those suggestions will then be sent out to members of the IHSAA board of control, which is scheduled to meet virtually the following week.

“We should be able to get our guidelines out to schools by the week of (July) 20th,” Jones said.

Fall sports practice for Idaho schools is scheduled to begin Aug. 10. The first dates games can be played are Aug. 21 (soccer), Aug. 26 (volleyball, cross country and swimming) and Aug. 28 (football).

Meanwhile, administrators from the four 5A schools and three 4A schools in the Inland Empire League have scheduled an emergency meeting for today, to discuss the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s decision to delay the start of fall sports practice until Sept. 5 for football and Sept. 7 for all other sports.

That would mean the first day Washington teams could play games is Friday, Sept. 18. In football, that would mean Washington schools would miss the first two weeks of their regular season, where many of their bigger schools play nonleague games vs. North Idaho schools.

Coeur d’Alene is scheduled to play Mt. Spokane on Sept. 4 at Whitworth, and play host to Gonzaga Prep on Sept. 11.

Lake City is slated to play Lewis and Clark on Sept. 4 at Albi Stadium in Spokane, and play host to Ferris on Sept. 11.

Post Falls is scheduled to host Idaho foe Rigby on Sept. 4, and play at University on Sept. 11.

Lakeland is slated to host Columbia of Nampa on Sept. 4, and visit West Valley on Sept. 11.

Most Idaho teams open on Aug. 28, playing other Idaho teams, so those games are not affected — so far. Coeur d’Alene is scheduled to open Aug. 21 vs. East Anchorage of Alaska.

Those games between Idaho and Washington schools for those two weeks would likely not be rescheduled, as the Greater Spokane League begins league play on Sept. 18.