Regina high school sports tentatively set to return in September

It would seem Regina high school athletes will be taking to the cross-country course, football field, soccer pitch and volleyball court in the fall.

In a media release Tuesday, the Regina High Schools Athletic Association (RHSAA) said it would be allowing cross-country, football and soccer teams to tentatively start practising Sept. 28.

Volleyball teams tentatively would be permitted to begin practising Oct. 13.

The RHSAA decision follows one made Thursday by the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association (SHSAA), which moved back the potential start dates for fall sports after the provincial government decided to delay the opening of schools to Sept. 8.

The government’s delay prompted the SHSAA to cancel the fall golf season across the province. Both the Regina and Saskatchewan associations hope to have spring golf starting in April.

Facing an uncertain future due to COVID-19, the Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate announced Aug. 16 it was cancelling all fall sports. Patrick Maze, the president of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, said earlier Tuesday he thought Regina schools also should cancel sports.

However, the RHSAA said Regina’s school divisions made the decision to go ahead with fall sports — tentatively, of course — after considering all of the COVID-19 guidelines laid out by the provincial government.

“The safety of students and all adult participants is our first concern before any return to sports,” RHSAA commissioner Aaron Anderson said in the RHSAA release.

“As the pandemic and guidelines related to keeping safe continue to evolve, our return-to-sports plan is subject to re-evaluation and change near or after the end of September.”

The RHSAA added it wants everyone from student-athletes to coaches to volunteers to feel safe as it prepares for a possible return to sports.

More details surrounding the SHSAA’s decision can be found below.