kepdawg
04-30-2009, 12:13 AM
UIL plays it safe but is reconsidering track decision
12:08 AM CDT on Thursday, April 30, 2009
By BRIAN DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News
brdavis@dallasnews.com
University Interscholastic League officials spent Wednesday weighing the consequences of canceling postseason events with serious health concerns in the wake of the swine flu outbreak.
Shortly after 11 a.m., UIL executive director Charles Breithaupt announced that all high school athletic competition would be suspended until May 11. That meant canceling this weekend's regional track meets, and tweaking the baseball and softball playoff schedules.
At 2:45 p.m., Breithaupt told The Dallas Morning News by telephone that the UIL was rethinking its plans. The regional track meets could be rescheduled for mid-May.
"We can do something that will be more palatable to the schools than what we initially released," Breithaupt said. "Stay tuned, because we think we have a better model now that we've had a little time to think about it."
No baseball or softball games will take place until May 11. The state golf and tennis championships are scheduled to begin May 11 in Austin.
Breithaupt and the UIL aren't taking any chances.
"Is there an overreaction? Perhaps," he said. "But what if we went ahead and had a huge outbreak and a lot of it immediately came from our meets?"
Area high school coaches didn't know what to make of the UIL's decision.
"You've got to trust they've got enough information out there, that they've got every kid's best interest in mind and it's best to not get together and spread germs," Southlake Carroll athletic director Hal Wasson said.
The UIL's initial decision was based on the recommendation of Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.
"It's a very, very unique situation, but they've got to do what's in the best interest of all the kids," Plano ISD athletic director Gerald Brence said.
Other athletic organizations spent the day monitoring the UIL's movements, but few followed suit.
The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools board of directors decided it would continue to monitor the situation but made no scheduling changes.
The Southwest Preparatory Conference executive committee suspended its spring championship events scheduled for today and Friday at Dallas-area SPC schools. Athletic directors are scheduled to meet again today to discuss how to move forward.
No area college contacted by The Dallas Morning News had plans to change its athletic schedules.
"We're closely following the situation," Big 12 Conference spokesman Bob Burda said.
The Sun Belt Conference, which includes the University of North Texas, has been monitoring developments, spokesman John McElwain said. A teleconference with the league's athletic administrators and sports medicine directors is planned for later this week.
The Southland Conference, which has seven Texas members, has been in contact with all 12 of its schools.
The Rangers play at home until Sunday and then go on the road for seven days. They have no plans to alter their schedule.
"We're monitoring very closely what's going on," executive vice president of communications John Blake said. "We're taking all the precautions we can with tours and with the museum. They're very good about that, even without something like this."
Staff writer Chuck Carlton and special contributor Anthony Andro contributed to this story.
UIL SCHEDULE
In response to the swine flu outbreak, the University Interscholastic League has canceled all interscholastic competition until May 11.
Track and field
The UIL's original plan was to cancel regional meets and determine state qualifiers by their district results. An extra day of semifinals would be added to the state meet, which would be held May 14-16 at Austin's Mike A. Myers Stadium. However, UIL officials are considering whether to reschedule the regional meets and push the state meet back to later in May. The UIL said a new schedule could be released today or Friday.
Softball
Two playoff rounds will be played each week instead of one, condensing the postseason from five weeks into three. Playoff games can begin May 11, and two of the playoff rounds – area and regional semifinals – must be one-game playoffs instead of three-game series. Coaches can choose a one-game playoff or three-game series in other rounds. The state tournament remains June 4-6.
Baseball
Two playoff rounds will be played each week instead of one, condensing the postseason from five weeks into three. All district playoff positions must be determined by May 19, and two of the playoff rounds – area and regional semifinals – must be one-game playoffs instead of three-game series. Coaches can choose a one-game playoff or three-game series in other rounds. The state tournament remains June 10-13.
Golf
The UIL golf state tournament schedule is unchanged:
May 11-12 for 1A, 2A and 4A
May 14-15 for 3A and 5A
Tennis
The UIL tennis state tournament schedule is unchanged:
May 11-12 for all classes
Academic State Meet
The UIL Academic State Meet, originally scheduled for May 7-9, will be rescheduled at a later date. The Conference 4A and 5A One-Act Play competition will continue as previously scheduled on May 15-16. All other conferences competing in One-Act Play will be rescheduled. A schedule of the Academic State Meet, including One-Act Play, will be posted on the UIL Web site once finalized.
Texas State Wind Ensemble Festival
The festival, originally scheduled for May 9, has been canceled. The UIL staff will consult with the 16 participating schools to determine whether to reschedule the event.
12:08 AM CDT on Thursday, April 30, 2009
By BRIAN DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News
brdavis@dallasnews.com
University Interscholastic League officials spent Wednesday weighing the consequences of canceling postseason events with serious health concerns in the wake of the swine flu outbreak.
Shortly after 11 a.m., UIL executive director Charles Breithaupt announced that all high school athletic competition would be suspended until May 11. That meant canceling this weekend's regional track meets, and tweaking the baseball and softball playoff schedules.
At 2:45 p.m., Breithaupt told The Dallas Morning News by telephone that the UIL was rethinking its plans. The regional track meets could be rescheduled for mid-May.
"We can do something that will be more palatable to the schools than what we initially released," Breithaupt said. "Stay tuned, because we think we have a better model now that we've had a little time to think about it."
No baseball or softball games will take place until May 11. The state golf and tennis championships are scheduled to begin May 11 in Austin.
Breithaupt and the UIL aren't taking any chances.
"Is there an overreaction? Perhaps," he said. "But what if we went ahead and had a huge outbreak and a lot of it immediately came from our meets?"
Area high school coaches didn't know what to make of the UIL's decision.
"You've got to trust they've got enough information out there, that they've got every kid's best interest in mind and it's best to not get together and spread germs," Southlake Carroll athletic director Hal Wasson said.
The UIL's initial decision was based on the recommendation of Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.
"It's a very, very unique situation, but they've got to do what's in the best interest of all the kids," Plano ISD athletic director Gerald Brence said.
Other athletic organizations spent the day monitoring the UIL's movements, but few followed suit.
The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools board of directors decided it would continue to monitor the situation but made no scheduling changes.
The Southwest Preparatory Conference executive committee suspended its spring championship events scheduled for today and Friday at Dallas-area SPC schools. Athletic directors are scheduled to meet again today to discuss how to move forward.
No area college contacted by The Dallas Morning News had plans to change its athletic schedules.
"We're closely following the situation," Big 12 Conference spokesman Bob Burda said.
The Sun Belt Conference, which includes the University of North Texas, has been monitoring developments, spokesman John McElwain said. A teleconference with the league's athletic administrators and sports medicine directors is planned for later this week.
The Southland Conference, which has seven Texas members, has been in contact with all 12 of its schools.
The Rangers play at home until Sunday and then go on the road for seven days. They have no plans to alter their schedule.
"We're monitoring very closely what's going on," executive vice president of communications John Blake said. "We're taking all the precautions we can with tours and with the museum. They're very good about that, even without something like this."
Staff writer Chuck Carlton and special contributor Anthony Andro contributed to this story.
UIL SCHEDULE
In response to the swine flu outbreak, the University Interscholastic League has canceled all interscholastic competition until May 11.
Track and field
The UIL's original plan was to cancel regional meets and determine state qualifiers by their district results. An extra day of semifinals would be added to the state meet, which would be held May 14-16 at Austin's Mike A. Myers Stadium. However, UIL officials are considering whether to reschedule the regional meets and push the state meet back to later in May. The UIL said a new schedule could be released today or Friday.
Softball
Two playoff rounds will be played each week instead of one, condensing the postseason from five weeks into three. Playoff games can begin May 11, and two of the playoff rounds – area and regional semifinals – must be one-game playoffs instead of three-game series. Coaches can choose a one-game playoff or three-game series in other rounds. The state tournament remains June 4-6.
Baseball
Two playoff rounds will be played each week instead of one, condensing the postseason from five weeks into three. All district playoff positions must be determined by May 19, and two of the playoff rounds – area and regional semifinals – must be one-game playoffs instead of three-game series. Coaches can choose a one-game playoff or three-game series in other rounds. The state tournament remains June 10-13.
Golf
The UIL golf state tournament schedule is unchanged:
May 11-12 for 1A, 2A and 4A
May 14-15 for 3A and 5A
Tennis
The UIL tennis state tournament schedule is unchanged:
May 11-12 for all classes
Academic State Meet
The UIL Academic State Meet, originally scheduled for May 7-9, will be rescheduled at a later date. The Conference 4A and 5A One-Act Play competition will continue as previously scheduled on May 15-16. All other conferences competing in One-Act Play will be rescheduled. A schedule of the Academic State Meet, including One-Act Play, will be posted on the UIL Web site once finalized.
Texas State Wind Ensemble Festival
The festival, originally scheduled for May 9, has been canceled. The UIL staff will consult with the 16 participating schools to determine whether to reschedule the event.