Norristown opting out of fall sports due to coronavirus caution

A day after the PIAA announced plans to move forward with planned fall sports, the Norristown Area School District removed itself from the equation.

Norristown announced on Twitter on Thursday that it will not be playing high school athletics during the fall this year out of caution for the coronavirus pandemic.

“We recognize the angst this will bring for our student athletes, coaches, and gameday staff, but it is the health and safety of those groups and their families that are paramount to the district,” the statement read. “If we cannot guarantee a safe return to the classroom, we cannot guarantee a safe return to the playing field, course, sidelines, courts or locker rooms.”

Norristown Area School District suspends fall athletics.

Read more via @NorristownAth⤵️ pic.twitter.com/BTYWzoAn6y

— NASD (@NorristownASD) July 30, 2020

The message left open the possibility that if the season is moved that the Eagles could revisit their plan to not participate.

Norristown adopted an all-virtual reopening plan on July 28 that will extend to Jan. 11, 2021.

Fellow Pioneer Athletic Conference schools Pottstown and Spring-Ford are also planning fully online returns. Pottstown was expected to discuss the future of co-curricular activities at its school board meeting Thursday night.