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The PIAA's monthly meeting began Wednesday with the public comments of an official from District 2 expressing his frustration with being told he was unable to enforce athletes and coaches to wear their masks properly during a basketball game he was working.
Jim Elliott claimed he's asked for guidance from the board, and the PIAA board said the issue was addressed in the most recent officials' bulletin.
"In the most basketball bulletin, it gave guidance to officials not to enforce the mask policy, because they don't have the authority," PIAA Assistant Executive Director Patrick Gebhart said. "The board of directors didn't make any rule modification regarding masks, so they don't have any authority provided by the board of directors. Also, our competition guidelines do not give the officials the authority for that. If they have any issue with the way the masks are being worn, they are to talk to the game manager."
School districts have varied on mask policies in District 6. Some schools, like Altoona, have decided not to require masks and that their athletes fall under the exemption offered by the governor. However, the Mountain Lions still wear masks when competing in Mid-Penn Conference play, because that league requires masks.
The PIAA is operating in a similar way. It's the school's decision, because that's what the governor's mandate was, but if local government chooses to step in, the PIAA also has no right to challenge that, either.
The plan for masks in the PIAA tournament has yet to be finalized.
"The PIAA has no authority to override any governmental action," PIAA general counsel Alan Boynton said. "The governor requires masking at all events. That is in place, but at the same time, the guidelines also provide that schools can issue exemptions, and the PIAA does not have the authority to override those exemptions. We've also learned at least one county department of health has issued an order that all participants will be required to wear a mask with no exemptions. Once again, the PIAA has no authority to override that. So, if any county says there will be no exceptions, the PIAA must abide by that as well."
PIAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Lombardi cited reported instances of officials fainting while wearing a mask, wrestlers being cut on the neck by masks and basketball players waking up the day following competition with a mask having issues with headaches.
SUBHED: Meeting notes
n The PIAA clarified that each district committee has the authority to address and resolve any actions by a league or conference which are contrary to the decisions by the PIAA board.
n Pending a written release approval from Bucknell University, the PIAA swimming and diving championships will be held at Cumberland Valley High School due to concerns about the maximum amount of people allowed at Bucknell being just 110 when with athletes alone, there will be more than 120 athletes. The diving championship will be a one-day event with district champions only on March 13. The swimming championships will be a two-day event March 19-20. There will be no spectators at either event.
n There is still no date set in stone for the PIAA team wrestling championships. The district team champions must be decided by March 20.
n The regional sites for wrestling have not been set in stone, however IUP is being discussed as a possibility for the 2A Western Regional. It is also possible that no spectators will be allowed, but without contracts signed, nothing is official.
n Mike Hudak and Sue Kovensky will remain the male and female District 6 officials representatives.
n A motion to eliminate the PIAA golf regionals in 2021, as they were in 2020, was approved.
n Teams participating in the district basketball playoffs can schedule regular season games to be played in between district games while still alive in the playoffs.
n The next PIAA meeting is scheduled for Feb. 17.