AUGUSTA — The Maine Principals’ Association announced Friday team-based practices and team-based scrimmaging for moderate and high-risk interscholastic winter sports, which were originally slated to begin December 14 have been delayed until January 4, 2021.

The decision, which was made in collaboration with the Maine School Boards Association, the Maine School Superintendents Association, the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the Mills Administration, comes as Maine continues to see an increase in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and positivity rate.

The decision, however, allows skill-building drills or conditioning to begin as scheduled December 7 with face coverings, physical distancing, no close contact, and in limited numbers when possible.

This measure aims to allow student athletes the opportunity to participate in school sports to a limited extent despite the delay in team-based practice and within-team competition, a news release stated. 

The State of Maine has also aligned its Guidance for Community Sports Activities to align with these changes.