Swine Flu And Sports

Brooks High School track and field coach Brad Black and his team drove eight hours from North Alabama to compete in the state championship. But late Thursday night, Black received a call from the Alabama High School Athletic Association regarding the swine flu scare. The championship event was postponed.

"Just kind of shocked," says Black. "Then I started trying to figure out who's staying, who's leaving and what to do next."

"It's a big disappointment," says Adam Bourn, a runner with the track and field team. "An eight hour drive, money. I was mad. I was angry, but it's for the best because the swine flu taking precautions and make sure everybody's safe and not getting sick."

There is some good news. Local hotels and condos are offering refunds to sports teams.

A tentative new schedule for AHSAA playoff events
postponed by the current outbreak of swine flu. A final decision
will be made on Monday:

TRACK & FIELD: All classes will compete at Gulf Shores
Sportsplex, the 1A-3A meet Thursday and Friday (May 7-8) and the
4A-6A meet on Friday and Saturday (May 8-9).
SOCCER: The second round games will be played Tuesday (May 5).
The state tournament (May 8-9) will be played as scheduled.
BASEBALL: Third round series will be played Tuesday and
Wednesday (May 5-6). The semifinal serie, to be played Friday and
Saturday (May 8-9) as scheduled, may play one game on Friday and
two games, if necessary, on Saturday if both schools agree. The
state tournament (May 12-15) will be played as scheduled.
SOFTBALL: Any postponed area tournaments will be rescheduled or
resumed Tuesday (May 5). Area tournaments may use a single
elimination format if all schools in a tournament agree. The
regional tournaments (May 8-9) and the state tournament (May 14-16)
will be played as scheduled.
GOLF: All sub-state tournaments will be played Tuesday (May 5).
The state tournament (May 11-12) will be played as scheduled.