GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Fall sports in Northeast Wisconsin’s two largest school districts will be played in the spring.
Green Bay and Appleton school leaders both announced their decisions in the wake of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s coronavirus guidelines, released earlier in the day, that allow spring seasons for sports that are typically played in the fall.
“This decision was not easy, but it was necessary for the safety and well-being of our student athletes,” Green Bay superintendent Stephen Murley said in a news release. “Across the state in both high school and college athletics, there is an acknowledgement that mitigation efforts alone are not enough to stop the spread of COVID-19. In addition, there are troubling reports of athletes who have been infected with COVID-19 having ongoing health issues. Athletics are important to our students, their families, coaches, and school communities. By moving fall athletics to the spring when we hope the activity level of COVID-19 will be greatly reduced, athletes will then be able to participate in the sports they love.”
Sports impacted are football, boys soccer, cross country, girls golf, girls tennis, girls swim and dive, and boys and girls volleyball
Green Bay district officials said the decision came after considering the ability to mitigate the spread of the virus, the current rate of community spread of the virus and guidelines from health officials.
Green Bay coaches will still be allowed to hold strength and conditioning sessions with small groups of athletes, using physical distancing and health and safety protocols.
In Appleton, the district said schools would share more information as it becomes available.
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