Finally, some clarity on the high school sports scene broke last week when the PIAA Board of Directors met and set guidelines for organized team activities to resume.

Teams will be allowed to resume formal activities based on the phase their county is in directed by Gov. Tom Wolf.

While all signs point to July 1 as a time-frame when most schools will be able to meet in person again, the board decided unanimously to give executive director Robert Lombardi the authority to make a decision when workouts before the fall can begin.

That means some teams and counties can get the green light before July 1, based on Lombardi’s discretion.

In last week’s Zoom meeting, Lombardi acknowledged that if certain counties were placed in the green phase by Gov. Wolf, he would also give the green light to allow activities to resume for schools within that county.

District 11 Chairman and Whitehall High School Athletic Director Bob Hartman fully supported the notion to let counties in permissible phases get back to action before restricted counties.

“Why should we deny any kid or group of kids if they’re permitted to do what they can do?” Hartman said. “My opinion is if we can let kids go, let’s let them go. Let’s let them be kids, let them be student-athletes, let them do their thing.”

District 11 consists of Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe and Schuylkill counties, with all of them in the red phase as of last week except Carbon. With Carbon moving to the “yellow phase,” teams there may have a shot at resuming activities before July 1.

The National Federation of State High School Associations last week announced guidelines for workouts or practices for when states are permitted to reopen. However, Lombardi said he considered those as guidelines, not rules.

In other news, the board also passed on a first reading that a two-game suspension would be handed out to coaches or players for contact with an official or for foul language. The rule must pass two more readings, but would increase the suspension by a game. The PIAA has seen a dramatic increase in suspensions in recent years, primarily because of foul language.

• The PIAA also passed on a third and final reading that female golfers would play from the same tee as male golfers in individual male championships. Previously, in these situations, a female golfer would play 15 percent closer than their male counterparts.

• Lastly, the mercy rule in basketball will go to a non-stop clock once a deficit reaches 30 points, compared to 40 points previously.