NJSIAA sets New Jersey high school wrestling season from December through mid-February
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by NJSIAA
NJSIAA New Jersey Return to Sports Plan
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (August 20, 2020) – It’s game on!
Today, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (NJSIAA) Sports Advisory Task Force released its Return-to-Sports Plan, which provides detailed schedules for fall and winter sports. The dates for the spring sports season will be announced at a later date; the task force recognizes the need to maximize the spring season due to the loss of the season last school year.
The outdoor fall sports – football, cross country, field hockey, girls tennis and soccer – will begin practice on September 14. Girls tennis will begin competition on September 28. Cross country, field hockey and soccer will begin competition on October 1, and opening day for the football season will be Friday, October 2.
The indoor fall sports – gymnastics and girls volleyball – will be moved to a new, special season that will begin with practices on February 16 and competition on March 3. If circumstances change, and we are unable to have a fall season, the outdoor fall sports will also be played at this time.
Winter sports teams may begin practicing on December 3. Winter sport competition will begin on December 21.
All of these dates are subject to change based on guidance from the Governor and Department of Health.
Editor's Note: The NJSIAA plan sets the start of wrestling practice on December 3, with competition beginning on December 21. It sets the "postseason" from February 5 - February 17. Out of state competition is prohibited without a waiver.
The Sports Advisory Task Force was guided by a set of principles that take into account the unique circumstances that we all are living through. Their goals were to ensure health and safety; promote participation, not championships; limit travel; and stay flexible in the face of changing circumstances.
With these principles in mind, schedules will be condensed, competition will be local, out-of-state competition will be prohibited (unless a waiver is granted for exceptional circumstances), and post-season play will be limited and local, with no statewide championships.
“We’re extremely appreciative of the support and guidance from Governor Phil Murphy, Senator Paul Sarlo and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly,” said NJSIAA COO, Colleen Maguire, “Our kids need structured activity, and we believe that education-based high school sports is the best way to provide it. Giving teenagers extra motivation to stay Covid-free promotes healthy outcomes for everyone.”
From Return to Sports Plan
Winter Sports – Season 2
Winter Sports will start practice on Thursday, December 3, 2020. Regular season competition will begin Monday, December 21, 2020 and end on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. NJSIAA will host post-season competition from Friday, February 5, 2021 through Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
Scrimmages:
Schools will have the opportunity to participate in one pre-season scrimmage, preferably with a neighboring school. The scrimmage may occur any time within seven days of the regular season start date for that sport. When possible, schools are encouraged to participate in intra-squad scrimmages and utilize officials to provide additional preseason preparation.
Post-Season:
The NJSIAA will strive to open post-season participation to any school wishing to participate. Depending on the sport, the post-season will be structured regionally based on counties or based on NJSIAA Sections. The 2019 – 2020 classifications will be relied on if Sectional championships are hosted.
Seeding committees will be convened for each sport in order to reduce the reliance on power points and other ranking systems. Objective data may be reviewed by the seeding committee, but it may also consider school location and other criteria.
Out-of-State Competition:
Out-of-state competition is prohibited, unless a waiver is granted for exceptional circumstances.
Transfers:
Any student-athlete that is subject to a transfer sit-period will be eligible for participation on Monday, January 11, 2021. This eligibility date is applicable to every winter sport. As a reminder, those student-athletes that transferred between March 16, 2020 and November 1, 2020 are not subject to the transfer sit- period. If a student-athlete transfers after November 1, 2020, the student-athlete shall be ineligible to participate for a period of 30 calendar days, or one half of the maximum number of games being played, whichever is less.
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (August 20, 2020) – It’s game on!
Today, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (NJSIAA) Sports Advisory Task Force released its Return-to-Sports Plan, which provides detailed schedules for fall and winter sports. The dates for the spring sports season will be announced at a later date; the task force recognizes the need to maximize the spring season due to the loss of the season last school year.
The outdoor fall sports – football, cross country, field hockey, girls tennis and soccer – will begin practice on September 14. Girls tennis will begin competition on September 28. Cross country, field hockey and soccer will begin competition on October 1, and opening day for the football season will be Friday, October 2.
The indoor fall sports – gymnastics and girls volleyball – will be moved to a new, special season that will begin with practices on February 16 and competition on March 3. If circumstances change, and we are unable to have a fall season, the outdoor fall sports will also be played at this time.
Winter sports teams may begin practicing on December 3. Winter sport competition will begin on December 21.
All of these dates are subject to change based on guidance from the Governor and Department of Health.
Editor's Note: The NJSIAA plan sets the start of wrestling practice on December 3, with competition beginning on December 21. It sets the "postseason" from February 5 - February 17. Out of state competition is prohibited without a waiver.
The Sports Advisory Task Force was guided by a set of principles that take into account the unique circumstances that we all are living through. Their goals were to ensure health and safety; promote participation, not championships; limit travel; and stay flexible in the face of changing circumstances.
With these principles in mind, schedules will be condensed, competition will be local, out-of-state competition will be prohibited (unless a waiver is granted for exceptional circumstances), and post-season play will be limited and local, with no statewide championships.
“We’re extremely appreciative of the support and guidance from Governor Phil Murphy, Senator Paul Sarlo and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly,” said NJSIAA COO, Colleen Maguire, “Our kids need structured activity, and we believe that education-based high school sports is the best way to provide it. Giving teenagers extra motivation to stay Covid-free promotes healthy outcomes for everyone.”
From Return to Sports Plan
Winter Sports – Season 2
Winter Sports will start practice on Thursday, December 3, 2020. Regular season competition will begin Monday, December 21, 2020 and end on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. NJSIAA will host post-season competition from Friday, February 5, 2021 through Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
Scrimmages:
Schools will have the opportunity to participate in one pre-season scrimmage, preferably with a neighboring school. The scrimmage may occur any time within seven days of the regular season start date for that sport. When possible, schools are encouraged to participate in intra-squad scrimmages and utilize officials to provide additional preseason preparation.
Post-Season:
The NJSIAA will strive to open post-season participation to any school wishing to participate. Depending on the sport, the post-season will be structured regionally based on counties or based on NJSIAA Sections. The 2019 – 2020 classifications will be relied on if Sectional championships are hosted.
Seeding committees will be convened for each sport in order to reduce the reliance on power points and other ranking systems. Objective data may be reviewed by the seeding committee, but it may also consider school location and other criteria.
Out-of-State Competition:
Out-of-state competition is prohibited, unless a waiver is granted for exceptional circumstances.
Transfers:
Any student-athlete that is subject to a transfer sit-period will be eligible for participation on Monday, January 11, 2021. This eligibility date is applicable to every winter sport. As a reminder, those student-athletes that transferred between March 16, 2020 and November 1, 2020 are not subject to the transfer sit- period. If a student-athlete transfers after November 1, 2020, the student-athlete shall be ineligible to participate for a period of 30 calendar days, or one half of the maximum number of games being played, whichever is less.
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