Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
A big step was taken forward on Thursday, May 28 during the New Mexico Activities Association board of directors meeting.
The board voted 8-4 in favor of schools beginning summer activities on June 15 for phase one. It’s unclear as to when phases two or three will roll out.
There will be certain restrictions and guidelines for coaches and athletes such as having no contact, no sharing of equipment and no games or scrimmages.
Also, there must be a 5-1 coach/athlete ratio during workouts.
Not all schools are scheduled to resume activities on June 15. The northwest counties of San Juan and McKinley are an exception and might begin later.
Athletes will be able to use sports physicals from the 2019-2020 school year for the upcoming year if they don’t meet the required guidelines which include suffering a new injury, receiving a new medical diagnosis, or contracting COVID-19.
A new physical will have to be done if any of the above conditions have happened to the athlete or if the athlete doesn’t have a physical on file.
The NMAA took a big hit financially during the state basketball tournament after not having fans for five days at The Pit.
According to NMAA executive director Sally Marquez, the tourney normally brings in $300,000-$350,000 for the games played at The Pit, but this year it only brought in $40,000.
For not having spring sports, a full basketball tourney and a state cheer competition, the NMAA budget is down $650,000.
Other items discussed:
- Centralizing the state golf tournament to three courses within the Albuquerque metro area rather than having it spread out across the state
- Having a three-person officiating crew for basketball games across all levels, 1A-5A
- Heat illness policy
- School co-ops for wrestling
- New state championship trophy design for the 2020-2021 school year
- Bylaws committee work
- Officials for invitational tournaments
- Certified officials for track and field meets across the state
- Lengthening the Class 2A football calendar by adding a bye week to the end of the season
- Coaches are now being mandated to take a hazing and bullying class
The next official board meeting is slated to meet again Sept. 16, but there could be a few more meetings in between now and then.
For additional info, please visit the NMAA website at https://www.nmact.org/file/Packet_052820.pdf to view the packet from today’s board meeting.
Link to YouTube interview with NMAA executive director: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgPMLvPx5tk&feature=youtu.be
Full list of guidelines can be viewed at: https://www.nmact.org/2020/05/nmaa-guidance-for-return-to-play/