On Wednesday the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association made two announcements, each influenced by COVID-19, that will affect spring sports attendance guidelines as well as changes to the annual Spring Fling format.
The state’s high school sports governing body informed its member schools that masks and social distancing are no longer a requirement at sporting events. The measure do, however, remain a recommendation.
The decision was made after consulting with the governor’s office.
“We are not seeing people at outdoor venues wearing (masks) anyway,” TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress told the Tennessean. “We do see them sitting away from each other.”
Masks had been mandated at all sports venues since the school year began and the TSSAA does continue to recommend that capacities be limited to a number that will allow for social distancing.