HANOVER COUNTY, Va. -- Hanover County schools will participate in winter sports, the school division announced Wednesday afternoon.
Hanover schools say the decision comes after careful consideration and with the support of the School Board.
The high school winter sports season will begin on Monday, January 4 and will be limited to only Hanover schools. Middle school winter sports will not be permitted.
"We understand the importance of sports and other extracurricular activities to our students’ well-being beyond the playing field and believe this decision to offer a limited season allows us to continue offering a holistic education in these uncertain times," school officials wrote in a message to families.
Despite the decision to play winter sports, school officials say they remain concerned about an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases reported recently in the county and school division.
"We will continue to monitor this closely and make any decisions regarding sports or our daily operations that may be necessary," school officials continued. "In order to ensure a successful sports season, we need every person in our community to stay vigilant in mitigating the spread of COVID-19."
School officials also decided the following:
- Eighth grade students will be allowed to try out for high school teams.
- All conditioning programs, tryouts, and practices at all schools will remain suspended until January 4, which is the first day after Winter Break.
- Teams that qualify for postseason play will be allowed to compete.
The announcement to play winter sports comes after the City of Richmond and Henrico County canceled their winter sports seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic.
For more information about Hanover's winter sports announcement, click here.
