Tucson-area high schools cancel football, other fall sports seasons

I recently wrote to you with information about COVID-19 as it relates to schools and to the Amphitheater District in particular. At that time, Pima County continued to support the hybrid model, and school activities were continuing as scheduled.

Hybrid learning will continue, but today, in response to a request from County Administrator Chuck Huckleberry and with the support of the Pima County Health Department, superintendents throughout the county agreed to cease all athletic practices and competitions immediately.

Only Phase 1 individual activities will continue. County health officials say there is ample evidence that most of the mass quarantine events in schools in the county are tied to athletic events. That has been true in our District, as we have seen hundreds of student-athletes being quarantined since opening in the hybrid model. School spread, notably, actually continues to be very low at present, but the increasing numbers in the general population put school populations at greater risk, and that is why the county has asked us to take action to limit the kind of potential for spread that our large athletic groups and gatherings represent. This was a difficult decision.

We know that athletics are important, and we know that our students are happiest when they are involved in the activities they love. I regret that we must end the season for our students in an abrupt and premature closing – especially after a delayed opening. We will continue to do our best for all students by making measured decisions with the guidance of health experts, just as we have endeavored to do since the pandemic found its way to our community.

Thank you for your continued understanding, Todd A. Jaeger, J.D.

Out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of the Pima County Administrator’s Office and public health recommendations issued by the Pima County Health Department, I’ve made the difficult decision to suspend the remainder of the football season. Effective today, all practices and games have been suspended.


We have also determined that Winter Sports Practices and After-School performing arts rehearsals are temporarily suspended and will be revisited on December 7th.
Please know that Tucson Unified is not the only district to take this action as all southern Arizona school districts have also canceled the remainder of their respective game schedules which leaves our schools without opponents to play.

I want to thank all of the hard-working coaches, athletes, and supportive parents that worked so hard to make this shortened season possible.