WPIAL decides to move forward with high school winter sports

PITTSBURGH — Local school districts are getting new guidance from the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League for the upcoming winter sports season.

The WPIAL has released its COVID-19 guidelines for indoor sports, including basketball, wrestling and swimming.

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For basketball, the host school will be required to have the ball cleaned during timeouts and between quarters.

Gymnasiums with a maximum capacity of 2,000 will be permitted to have a 20% occupancy rate.

“It’s a whole new set of considerations when we come indoors. Capacities are smaller. Facilities are smaller,”

Gateway athletic director Don Holl told Channel 11.

For swimming meets, guidelines recommend teams on opposite sides of the pool and home and visiting teams to

swim in separate, designated lanes.

As for wrestling, recommendations include having the mats disinfected before and after matches.

The WPIAL stated tryouts and practices can begin Nov. 20, with competitions starting Dec. 11.

WPIAL, ACHD keeping a close eye on high school sports' COVID-19 safety WPIAL, ACHD keeping a close eye on high school sports' COVID-19 safety

Cox Media Group