THSSCA state soccer tournament canceled because of governor's state of emergency extension

The Tennessee High School Soccer Coaches Association wanted to give seniors one last chance to play.

With the THSSCA 2020 State Championships, 48 schools from across Tennessee were set to play games at Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg from July 9-11 and July 13-15.

However, Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday extended Tennessee's state of emergency for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic until Aug. 29. In accordance with the extension, the THSSCA canceled the tournament.

"It wasn't for me and the other coaches," said Zach Schrandt, Gatlinburg-Pittman's coach and one of the tournament organizers. "We were all doing this to give them (the players) a chance to end properly because they lost prom and so many things.

"We thought that they needed some positives."

The executive order limits contact sports and activities. Schools are not allowed to have scrimmages or competitions with other schools, and they cannot have close contact activities during practices in sports that involve high levels of contact, including soccer.

Boys soccer was one of the sports canceled, along with baseball and softball, before the season could begin in March.

Schrandt said that he is trying to plan a banquet for his team to replace the tournament. 

"This tournament was going to be a send-off for the seniors," Schrandt said. "Now that we can't do it, we want to try to make sure that we get to do a small gathering banquet.  ... Things to try and commemorate their experience and time in high school."

The THSSCA's decision followed an announcement by the TSSAA that the start of the fall football and girls soccer schedules will be delayed. No new target dates were announced.

Girls soccer was set to begin on Aug. 17 and football on Aug. 20.