Return to play looming for some high school sports, others waiting on clearance

Some high school sports leagues will return to practice on Monday with the plan of game action resuming one week later.

Athletic directors locally have been advised that low-contact indoor sports such as volleyball, curling, and badminton can return to practice on Feb. 7.

The leagues can resume game action as early as Feb. 14, with the leagues having the ability to determine their official return dates.

High-contact indoor sports such as hockey, basketball, and wrestling haven’t been cleared for a return just yet.

In late-January the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations announced the cancellation of winter championships scheduled for February and March.

The association cited back-to-school developments and the current COVID-19 conditions at the time as the reason behind the decision.

A statement released at the time added that the decision would also allow local associations to extend their seasons once leagues were given the go-ahead to return to play.

The affected tournaments include OFSAA championships for alpine skiing, nordic skiing, snowboarding, basketball, volleyball, hockey and curling. Swimming and wrestling were cancelled earlier with no host convenor in place.

A statement from OFSAA president Carolyn Chesney released on Jan. 27 added that “we remain optimistic for OFSAA spring championships and festivals and plans are moving forward beginning with badminton in May.”