Will COVID Cause Louisiana High Schools to Forfeit Football Games?

Last year it was delays or postponements. This year it's cancellations and forfeits. At least that's the word from the Louisiana High School Athletics Association when it comes to the possibility of COVID 19 breakouts decimating sports teams - specifically football - across the state.

In a memo to members, the LHSAA said just as much, telling schools that if they can't field a team due to COVID, they forfeit the game.

The 12-page correspondence from LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine underlined the organization’s stance that school's administrations and athletic departments must work together with their local health officials as the football season approaches.

But Bonine memo also is adamant that if a ream is unable to play because of COVID-19, those games, unlike last year, will be considered forfeits.

“But please know, unlike last year, we will not referee the alleged manipulation of COVID issue relief to facilitate the avoidance of opponents for sports specific power ranking reasons. Now having preventative measures that can be taken to avoid issues with the virus, any/all reasons that may occur as it relates to COVID that prevents your school(s) not to fulfill a regular and/or postseason game, contest, match or meet, will result in a forfeiture.”

The LHSAA memo also says that attendance limits for games will be set in accordance with directives and orders from the governor’s office, state fire marshal officials and officials from the Louisiana Department of Health.

The Louisiana high school football schedule kicks off across the state Thursday, September 2.

To see the entire Louisiana High School Athletics Association to schools, JUST CLICK HERE.