Minnesota State High School League: No spring sports practice effective Wednesday

When Minnesota schools shut down on Wednesday, all spring sports practice will cease as well.

After Gov. Tim Walz on Sunday ordered that schools be closed at least eight days — through March 27 — the Minnesota State High School League said "there will be no MSHSL activities and athletics at any member school'' throughout that period.

"This includes all participation including, but not limited to training, practices, scrimmages and contests,'' the league said.

The move comes after the league on Friday delayed the start of games between schools until April 6 at the earliest, amid growing concern about curbing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The league reiterated Sunday that those restrictions on games remain in effect.

The league's announcement came before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday recommended no gatherings of 50 or more people anywhere in the United States for at least eight weeks.

High school sports practice and training has been underway for six of the 10 spring sports, including softball, track and field, badminton, adapted bowling, adapted softball and synchronized swimming.

Baseball and golf practices are eligible to start Monday, although it won't be clear until Wednesday how the league's announcement will affect those sports. Lacrosse and boys' tennis practices, originally set to begin March 23, will be delayed through March 27.

The league's announcement on Friday also prohibited any competition against other schools, including scrimmages, until April 6 at the earliest.

Before the restrictions were put into place, softball and track and field could have started competing as early as Thursday. Baseball, boys' tennis, and golf could have held games, matches and meets on March 26.

Lacrosse, the last of the spring sports to start holding games, originally wasn't expected to start playing games until April 9.