AHSAA bringing back fines, penalties for schools that forfeit games due to COVID-19

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A year after many teams and seasons were affected through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alabama High School Athletic Association will relaunch its championship participation rule regarding forfeits.

The AHSAA central board met in Montgomery Wednesday and voted to reintroduce all rules and regulations governing game forfeiture that were in effect prior to the 2020-21 season. In light of the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, penalties or fines were waived for school superintendents who determined that teams could not participate due to COVID concerns.

“We will be moving back to normalcy this year,” said Central Board president Van Phillips, who is also principal at Center Point High School in Jefferson County.

AHSAA stated that fines will be determined for each school and every situation on a case by case basis.

Last season, several high-school football teams cancelled certain games because of COVID-19 concerns. Woodlawn’s Homewood team had to cancel a game after a Woodlawn football player was allegedly exposed to the virus. The virus also caused Chilton County to cancel a game against Helena.

The AHSAA will work closely with the Alabama Department of Public Health, and the Alabama State Department of Education. It will ask member schools to maintain the safety and health guidelines they have in place and follow any local safety and health ordinances.