NMAA anticipates revised calendar

ALBUQUERQUE — The state’s governing body for prep sports and activities anticipates having a revised calendar for sports that will now incorporate all sports traditionally played in the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Mexico Activities Association Executive Director Sally Marquez said the board anticipates a revised spring sports calendar by the end of the week that will now include volleyball and cross country.

“What happens in January, COVID-19 is going to dictate that,” Marquez said in a post on the association’s YouTube channel. “We will continue to work with the governor’s office, we will continue to work with the Public Education Department. We don’t want to hear the word ‘cancel.’ We want to keep thinking that we are going to be able to play all sports in the ’20-21 school year.”

The association had previously hoped to resume competition on Oct. 10, but postponed volleyball and cross country after state public health orders were not relaxed. Marquez stressed the ability to meet in 9:1 pods with coaches as long as there is social distancing and mask wearing. She encouraged mask wearing and social distancing throughout the state to drive down COVID-19 infection rates.

“We have to not only look at the two sports and where they fit, but we need to get with the coaches,” Marquez said. “You’re talking cross country, doing a back-to-back with track; that’s really difficult. So we need to make sure those athletes are safe. You’ve got basketball and volleyball players who are doing both sports, and we have club volleyball we’re running into. It’s not going to be a quick decision, but it will be the right decision.”

The association, Marquez said, is extending the spring competition season to the end of June for the unusual situation. Still, many seasons will have to be compressed and run at the same time as other seasons.

“We don’t want to get into a situation where kids are going to have to choose,” Marquez said. “They’ve had it rough. Going back to when spring sports were eliminated, and now we’re waiting until January to do all of the sports. We want to make sure that whatever we do, it’s for the good of the student-athlete.”

In other topics addressed by Marquez:

• Students who have transferred or plan to transfer to neighboring states to play football are still subject to transfer rules, which dictate, “you have one season during a school year to play that sport.”

• Powerlifting can still be done in virtual competitions, so long as competitors are still in the 9:1 ratio and weight rooms do not go above 25% capacity. “Within the governor’s order, we can make powerlifting happen.”

• Spirit is difficult because social distancing doesn’t allow for stunts. “I think the focus right now needs be sideline (cheering) instead of cheer with music and stunt,” Marquez said.