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PA officials ‘strongly recommend’ postponing HS Fall sports; ball is now in ‘disappointed’ PIAA’s court

File Photo courtesy of Ed Thompson

We knew an announcement would be forthcoming from PA Governor Tom Wolf by week’s end regarding his office and PA Department of Health’s guidance for scholastic sports in the commonwealth.

Recent setbacks create doubts for WPIAL soccer season

On Thursday, Wolf shared in his morning press conference that he believes there should be no sports in Pennsylvania for the remainder of the year when asked about the PIAA giving sports the green light to resume athletics.

Wolf responded: “the recommendation is that we don’t do any sports until January 1st.”

The Governor further added: “The guidance is that we ought to avoid any congregate settings. And that means anything that brings people together is going to help that virus get us and we ought to do everything we can to defeat that virus. So any time we get together for any reason, that’s a problem because it makes it easier for that virus to spread.”

Later in the afternoon, the Governor and the Department of Health and Education released a more formal, joint statement.

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With this being a ‘recommendation’ and not a direct order, this firmly puts the ball in the court of the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association), to proceed forward.

To this point, the PIAA has moved forward, with caution, in preparing for the 2020 Fall Sports season.

High school soccer programs return to optional workouts; PIAA remains committed to Fall sports

Following the Governor’s statement on Thursday morning, the PIAA’s Board of Directors quickly convened in the afternoon.  The PIAA has responded, expressing its ‘disappointment’. It’s our understanding, per Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, that the PIAA held a phone call with Wolf to try and change his mind

The Commonwealth’s scholastic sports governing body needs some time to figure out how to proceed.  They’ll be meeting again tomorrow, and will release an official statement at that time.

The statements made by the Governor and the ensuing joint recommendations set off various reactions on various social media platforms.

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Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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