ABSTRACT
In the late summer of 2020, the world was in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, in the United States, there was pressure to reopen the economy, schools, and entertainment venues. Some educational institutions migrated to totally online education. In other cases, students poured into elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as colleges and universities. While some schools suspended their athletics programs, others reinstated sports, in many cases with adaptations. Before long, there were interruptions. In some cases, whole teams were quarantined after outbreaks of COVID-19. This chapter addresses decisions by school authorities to play or not play high school and intercollegiate sports in the late summer and autumn of 2020, in light of the raging COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter looks at arguments against and for reinstating sports at the time, and it concludes that it was neither prudent nor ethical to reinstate many sports, especially close contact sports such as American football, basketball, and soccer. In spite of real losses involved in postponing or canceling competition, the risks were prohibitive.
