The South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) held a special meeting on Tuesday, November 23rd to discuss the potential of changing the start of the winter sports season along with a couple of other items.
After hearing from athletic directors across the state on both sides of the issue for changing the start of winter sports, the SDHSAA Board of Directors did not make a motion to change the date. The winter sports season for basketball, wrestling, and gymnastics will continue to move forward as planned and on time as suggested by the winter sports committee.
The board of directors did make a motion and passed two recommendations in regard to the winter sports season. The SDHSAA high recommends masks be worn by spectators that are allowed into the events, and they also recommend schools put a limit on attendance of the events. The schools will make the decision as to what the limit will be based on their venue capacity and the ability to social distance.
The new recommendations made by the SDHSAA during the special meeting will not have major impact to Dell Rapids or Dell Rapids St Mary schools. Both schools had implemented a masking policy and had also limited attendance by the end of the falls sports season. Those policies will continue to be in place at the start of the winter season.