Sports in Arkansas are expected to resume as normal, according to the state’s activities association.
On Tuesday, July 7, the Arkansas Activities Association announced that it is “planning to resume activities and athletics this Fall in accordance with the regular AAA calendar.” Plans for resuming sports will be required to adhere to state directives issued by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Department of Health, and multiple association advisory committees are reportedly working to develop plans that will comply with the directives and guidelines.
Covid-19 Update! pic.twitter.com/Fy8xJ4myEC
— AAA (@ArkActAssn) July 7, 2020
In the press release, the Arkansas Activities Association said that nearby states were also planning to resume fall sports. Currently, Tennessee only allows weightlifting, condition and fundamental work with no contact for football, soccer, wrestling basketball and competitive cheer. The Tennessee Secondary School Athletics Association will be meeting on July 8 to determine whether football will be allowed to be played in the fall. Oklahoma appears to also be moving toward having normal fall sports although contingency plans have been adopted.
As recently as last week, Gov. Asa Hutchinson told reporters that contact sports would not be allowed to have group contact drills under current circumstances. Hutchinson approved limited practices for team sports – which took effect on June 1.
When he announced the limited practice guidelines, Hutchinson said that state officials would be looking at revisiting them in late June. However, he has said that teams will not be able to go to full-contact drills until Phase III of the state’s reopening.
The Arkansas Activities Association did not elaborate on its plans it is developing.
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