Finally!
As a result of a vote by the Maine Principals Association’s membership last year, athletic events can be held on Sunday as long as they are hosted by the MPA and aren’t regular season competitions.
For example, if a snowstorm forces a postponement of Saturday state or regional high school basketball tournament games, Sunday would now be available to play the games if the facility is available. Under the old MPA guidelines, the games would have been pushed back until Monday.
The MPA has scheduled its first-ever Sunday event for this weekend when 18 matches will be held at the state tennis championships at Bates College in Lewiston including the boys and girls doubles finals.
There were 124 matches scheduled Thursday through Saturday, and the tournament will conclude Monday with the boys and girls singles championship matches.
The first actual Sunday competition was held weeks ago, according to Mike Bisson, the assistant executive director of the MPA.
A regional tennis qualifying competition couldn’t be completed on Saturday so it spilled over to Sunday.
Before the rule change athletes involved in all-day events like wrestling or track competitions often had to miss school on a Monday if the meet was rescheduled for then. It also meant that many parents, family members and friends had to alter their work schedules to attend the competitions on Monday.
To not have Sunday available as a make-up date for post-season events was a hardship.
For athletes who are involved in various athletic programs through their recreation departments or travel teams, many of their games are already scheduled on Sundays.
The reason the MPA membership used to give for not making Sunday available was that Sunday should be a family day.
Athletes, families, coaches and athletic administrators are busy enough six days of the week. They need a day of rest.
Understandably, religious groups were among the major proponents of a Sunday sabbatical.
I am not disagreeing when it comes to scheduling regular season competitions. But when there are extenuating circumstances like poor weather conditions or facility availability issues for MPA-hosted events, it is important to have Sunday available.
And wouldn’t attending an athletic event together constitute a family activity?
Plus, the decision-makers who may have tried to squeeze in Saturday games or meets in shaky weather to avoid pushing the events until Monday can now afford to postpone Saturday knowing Sunday is available.
The MPA’s Bisson said having Sunday available for extenuating circumstances is going to be a “helpful tool for us to get these events taken care of.”
“We’re working around a lot of events, especially this time of year, and this will certainly help us get everything played,” he said.
