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The Virginia High School League (VHSL) had held out hope for holding some spring sports activities this summer, but that hope is gone now.

During its May meeting Thursday, May 7, the VHSL Executive Committee voted 31- 0-1 to cancel all spring sports and activities for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, the league stated in a press release.

“This extremely difficult decision was made knowing the great disappointment our student-athletes, academic activity participants, coaches, administrators, parents and their communities will experience,” VHSL Executive Director Dr. John W. “Billy” Haun said in the release. “We especially grieve with those senior athletes and activity participants who will not have an opportunity to represent their school or wear their school jersey one final time after years of hard work and dedication.”

He noted that any options for the spring sports season would require that COVID-19 no longer be a threat and pose no health risks to VHSL’s student-athletes or to the public.

“Sadly, the situation has not changed and has made it impossible to have a spring season without putting people at risk,” he said. “While we recognize the importance sports has on our students and communities, we need to follow all the regulations and recommendations from the governor, the Virginia Department of Health and the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Every decision we make, and will make looking forward, will be in the best interest of our student-athletes and the public. Safety will always be our number one priority.”