The Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) released in a state-wide announcement on Tuesday, the cancellation of all remaining ASAA sanctioned state championship events.
ASAA, the governing body for all high school extra-curricular activities, notified all Alaska schools of the ASAA Boards decision on Tuesday afternoon; the ASAA Board is holding its annual, fall meeting at the Lakefront Hotel and via ZOOM (meeting running Oct. 11-13).
The immediate effect results in the cancellation of Division I, Division II and Division III football; ending the 2020 Alaska football season with 15 teams preparing for the football playoffs and state tournament games.
The ASAA release stated, ” The Alaska School Activities Association is announcing the cancellation of all 2020 Fall State Championship Events. For the activities currently in season, Regions are allowed to
complete their Regional championships, if they are able to do so prior to November 22, 2020.
This decision applies to the following: Football, Swim & Dive, Gymnastics, Rifle, Music,
Esports, DDF and Volleyball.”
High school sports such as volleyball and swimming on the Kenai Peninsula are currently struggling to complete a regular season and no longer have the opportunity to qualify or participate in a state championship culminating event.
In a separate decision regarding upcoming “winter” sports such as hockey, wrestling, nordic ski and basketball; the Alaska School Activities Association confirmed the postponement of all other activities until the adoption of a revised calendar (see link to ASAA activities calendar provided below) .
ASAA 2020-21 Activities Calendar: Click Here
The ASAA release stated, ” This decision (cancellation of state events and postponement of season start-ups) is based on: Consultation with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and the
Anchorage Health Department; the current status of COVID-19 case counts and the projections of the case counts increasing in Anchorage and other parts of the State; and the impact of travel during the holiday season both into and out of Alaska.”
According to the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services, (data on October 13th); the current statewide alert level, based on the average daily case rate over 14 days per 100,000 population, is high at 21.61 per 100,000. Alaska has exceeded a daily count of 100 cases statewide for 20 consecutive days (as of Oct. 13th).
The ASAA Board of Directors is currently scheduled to meet again on November 9, 2020.
