Reservation high schools planning to play all sports seasons starting January

There could be football on the Navajo Nation this school year, after all.

After all of the 3A North Region schools canceled fall sports earlier this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic, athletics directors have developed a proposal that has been discussed with the Arizona Interscholastic Association leaders to return to athletic activities in January.

The proposal includes a modified football, volleyball and cross-country season conducted from February to April, with basketball and wrestling in January and February.

Window Rock Athletic Director Ryan Dodson sent The Arizona Republic a statement from the Northeast Region on the proposal for the return to sports that will be presented to the AIA Executive Board later this month.

The statement says northeast Arizona reservation schools from the 1A, 2A and 3A conferences began collaborating on ways to resume sports after fall seasons were cancelled in August. The Navajo Nation was among  the hardest hit areas in the nation by the COVID-19 pandemic this spring.

"A proposal was developed and discussed with the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Leadership. It would allow the Northeastern Schools to resume activities that best meets the safety and concerns of our communities during this pandemic,'' the statement says.

"This plan allows our schools to develop alternative athletic and activity timelines that maximize the safety of our competitive and practice environments."

Under the plan, athletic activities would resume in January. The statement said the proposed timeline would allow basketball and wrestling practice and competition in January and February, football, volleyball, and cross country from February to April, and baseball, softball, and track & field from April to June.

The proposal is scheduled to go before the AIa board on Sept. 21, the statement says.

Tuesday marked the first day since April that there were no positive coronavirus cases on the Navajo Nation, which, at one point during the pandemic, was the biggest hot spot in the country.

"We hope it may be possible for our student-athletes to have the opportunity to compete," Kayenta Monument Valley football coach Bryan Begay said. "That's what we want."

The Northeastern Region schools comprise of Whiteriver Alchesay, Chinle, Ganado, Tuba City Greyhills, Keams Canyon Hopi, Many Farms, Monument Valley, Page, Pinon, Red Mesa, Red Valley-Cove, Rock Point, St. Michael Indian School, Tuba City, Sanders Valley and Window Rock.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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