Southern Idaho Conference Delays Start of Wrestling, Basketball Season Two Weeks
Boise, ID --10/30/2020 -- The Southern Idaho Conference (SIC) announced today its plan to delay the start of winter sports for high schools in 5A and 4A divisions for two weeks.
“Our goal is to ensure our student athletes can practice and play in controlled safe environments during this time of extensive community spread of COVID in our communities,” said SIC President Wendy Johnson. “We want our athletes to have a season.”
Citing concerns about an increase in the spread of COVID in their communities and the return to Stage 3 in the Gov. Brad Little’s Reopening Plan, the SIC plans to start winter sports on this schedule:
- Girls Basketball begin practice Nov. 16 and competition Nov. 30
- Boys Basketball begin practice Nov. 30 and competition Dec. 11
- Boys & Girls Wrestling begin practice Nov. 30 and competition Dec. 11
Activities for student athletes in the time before the start of practices will vary based on guidance from the members’ respective health districts -- Southwest District Health Department and Central District Health Department -- as well as Gov. Brad Little’s Reopening Plan.
Under the plan:
- Student athletes in Ada County SIC schools Boise, Kuna, West Ada, and Bishop Kelly will pause with no activities from Nov. 1-15
- Student athletes in Canyon County and Gem County SIC schools -- Caldwell, Middleton, Nampa, Vallivue and Emmett will participate in individual conditioning activities under the supervision of school staff also referred to as “open gym” or “open mats.”
- All activities and practices will follow the safety protocols used for fall sports.
SIC members strongly encourage their student athletes to avoid private group practices to ensure they remain healthy, are able to play, and do not contribute to the spread of COVID.
Conference members will begin working on schedules noting that the number of competitions and matches likely will vary as they did with fall sports depending on the health of its teams.
The SIC will wait to decide about how to handle spectators closer to the start of competitions in mid-November.
“We encourage all of our communities to follow the advice of health and medical professionals to reduce the spread of the virus so health alert levels will drop,” Johnson said. “Please wash your hands, wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart, and get a flu shot.”
