The Principals’ Committee on Athletics held a virtual meeting on April 6, and in light of the disrupted school year caused by the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League’s governing body discussed and unanimously approved the following decisions.

The start date of the 2020 RIIL spring sports season was delayed until May 4, contingent upon students returning to regular in-class instruction on that date and in accordance with all R.I. Department of Health and public safety guidelines. Teams will play a modified schedule with games beginning no earlier than May 11. The spring sports season ending date is extended to June 27. Please note this timeline will be reevaluated and modified accordingly based on any new announcements or changes made by Governor Gina Raimondo and RIDOH.

The following rule waivers will apply for the 2020 spring sports season only: The PCOA approved a waiver of the current academic eligibility standard to allow each schools’ principal to determine student eligibility for the 2020 spring sports season only. This waiver is to acknowledge the unusual circumstances in grading during this time of distance learning; in acknowledgement of a shortened spring sports season, the PCOA approved a waiver of the 50-percent ineligibility period for all spring sport transfer students, as long as a completed transfer affidavit form has been filed by the school principal/athletic director at the RIIL office; and a one-year extension of the 2018-2020 Sport Alignments for the Fall, Winter and Spring Seasons. This extension will be in effect for the 2020-2021 school year only.

Complete minutes from today’s PCOA meeting will be posted on the RIIL website as soon as possible.