Their athletics, activities, outlets and — for some — the reason they go to school has been taken away, they say, through no fault of their own.

So, some high school students are taking matters into their own hands and trying to get the attention of decision-makers.

About 150 athletes, coaches and parents held a rally in downtown Carson City on Saturday in front of the Nevada State Legislature building.

There were also cheerleaders and band members participating in Saturday’s rally.

Two weeks ago, at a Washoe County School Board meeting, about 50 athletes rallied outside Sparks High School while the board met inside.

At the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association board meeting on Wednesday, executive director Bart Thompson said the decision to postpone fall sports is coming from the state executive branch and Gov. Steve Sisolak’s office.

Before ending the state phase guidance system, Sisolak had put athletics in “phase two,” — meaning no organized competition — where it remains. That means players cannot practice or be around their teammates outside of classrooms.

Currently in Washoe County, there is a hybrid school system where some students are distance-learning while some go to classrooms. Clark County is all distance-learning.

The current proposal from the NIAA, and approved by the 17 state school superintendents, has winter sports being allowed to start Jan. 2 with a six-week season beginning Jan. 14, then fall sports in March and April and spring sports in April and May.

MORE: NIAA: High school sports will not begin until January; director announces retirement next summer

Damonte Ranch baseball coach Jon Polson said the larger number of positive COVID-19 cases in Las Vegas should not bring down the rest of the state.

“We have to be able to make a separation between Las Vegas and Northern Nevada,” Polson said. “We’re a different demographic. I don’t think we should be labeled as one-size-fits-all in Nevada.”

Polson also noted that several nearby states are allowing sports to proceed this fall.

He said students need to be engaged and physically active and that being in classrooms is a good first step.

Joe Lawrence, an assistant football coach at Damonte Ranch, said it is frustrating to not have any good answers for students about why they are not being allowed to play sports this fall.

“Bart Thompson made it clear that it is not the superintendents versus the NIAA,” Lawrence said. “Really, it comes down to the governor’s directives.

“What we need is for the Governor to get specific and take us out of phase two. Look at our numbers — the north’s numbers are significantly better than the south.”

He said if restrictions are lifted, teams could be ready to play games in two weeks.

Sept. 18 would have have been the fifth week of the high school football season.

Lawrence said even with distance-learning, athletes should be allowed to go to schools and practice their sports. He added that junior seasons are critical for high school athletes to get the attention of college coaches.

Spanish Springs senior Parker Luthy, who plays football and wrestles, was at the rally Saturday.

“We just want to be heard,” he said. “We want Sisolak to hear us. We want other states to hear us and we want to be the next to re-open,” Luthy said. “This is kind of our last resort here.”

He said 38 other states are allowing sports this fall.

Spanish Springs assistant football coach John Patterson said he has not heard a good reason for the sports postponement.

“He (Gov. Sisolak) let us start practice in July, when he said things were the worst. Things are not the worst anymore. Kids are back in school, We need to let them play,” Patterson said.

Patterson said the weekly rallies will continue as long as possible if there is no change in the situation.

“It’s not about us. It’s about every single one of those kids,” Patterson said. “Golfers, soccer players, cross country runners. “

Jim Krajewski covers high school and youth sports for the Reno Gazette Journal. Follow him on Twitter @RGJPreps. Support his work by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.