MHSA announces spring sports guidelines

The Montana High School Association released recommendations for spring sports Friday, with the most eye-catching being the possibility of larger track and field meets.

While dual and triangular meets are recommended and encouraged, the MHSA did include participation limits for bigger meets.

For meets with 4-10 teams, there can be no more than five entries per team per event. For 11-20 teams the limit drops to four; and for 20-25 teams it drops to three.

MHSA executive director Mark Beckman said Friday the recommendations, directives and requirements had to wait until the executive board had a feel for how the pandemic would affect things going forward. But he confirmed, bigger meets are on the table.

“If they want to adjust, they can,” Beckman said. “That’s up to them.

“We encourage the duals and triangular and then if they want to have bigger meets they can follow that criteria.”

Other recommendations are that multi-team softball tournaments can be held if at a complex with more than one field, and entry and exit is controlled; likewise with tennis, duals are encouraged but multi-team events can be held at venues with multiple courts.

All spring sports practices for track and field, softball, tennis and golf began on the scheduled dates.

The MHSA said facial coverings “must be worn according to local health department directives, facility requirements, and/or school requirements. If there aren’t requirements, the MHSA encourages the wearing of face coverings by coaches, players and fans.”

Athletes aren’t required to wear a mask while competing.