Maryland public schools postpone fall, winter sports

The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association is postponing the fall and winter high school sports seasons, with the coronavirus pandemic continuing and case counts climbing back upward.

The decision comes as many school districts delay in-person learning, and three months after the cancellation of the 2020 spring sports season because of the pandemic. It also follows a similar move by two bodies that govern area private schools, the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland, which announced last week that they postponed the start of fall practices to Sept. 1 or later.

“The health and safety of student participants, coaches, and officials is a primary concern for the return of interscholastic athletics and activities,” the MPSSAA news release said.

The fall sports season was set to begin with tryouts Aug. 12. The MPSSAA’s fall sports are field hockey, football, volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls soccer, and golf.

The winter seasons are boys and girls basketball, wrestling and indoor track and

field.

The MPSSAA is working to finalize modified competition seasons for all sports during the second semester, according to the release.

Michael Duffy, Carroll County’s supervisor of athletics, said it’s heartbreaking to imagine a fall without high school sports, similar to the lost spring season .

“It wasn’t completely unforeseen. It’s still not what we want to be happening,” Duffy said.

“From the MPSSAA and the superintendents, and the state superintendent, I think from all their perspectives, with so many school systems beginning in a virtual setting, it makes it very difficult to have in-person athletics, sponsored by the school systems, if there’s not going to be in-person education. And I think that was really the driving force.”

Brad Duvall, who coaches the girls soccer team along with the track teams at Hereford, believes it was important for the MPSSAA decision to be made at this time so student-athletes, parents and coaches have an idea what lies ahead.

“It’s been up and down, and the last couple months there’s been a lot of speculation and nobody knew what’s been going on,” he said. When students, parents and coaches know the outlook for the next few months, that’s “a good thing. And I did see in the statement that they’re going to give all sports an opportunity in the spring semester and that’s all we can ask for,” he said.

Century field hockey coach Terry Duryea said it’s tough to explain to her players why they can’t get ready for a varsity season with club and rec programs in full swing.

“I also would have liked to have the opportunity to tell the players myself,” she said via text message, “and we unfortunately were not given that because the worth the health. I would love to be to wear it.” decision was made so late. This is an working with my team right now. I would Baltimore County said on July 21 that it emotional time for so many, and I truly love to know I’d be working in the gym was postponing the start of the athletic hope ‘postponed’ means that, and that the with my guys [on]in November 15, but it’s season “while instruction is virtual and girls will eventually get to have their sticks not worth it,” Maynard said. until it is safe to conduct all the various in their hands. It’s so important to them.” Maynard remains hopeful his players’ facets of organized team sports,” according

For Havre de Grace football and boys basketball season will be salvaged. He to its draft reopening plan. The winter basketball coach Brian Eberhardt, the anticipates a vaccine or another shutdown season traditionally begins in mid-Novemuncertainty of coronavirus makesber.foracouldbethekey. difficult waiting game. He contrasted the postponement to Howard County on Wednesday and

“These things are historical and comMontgomery County’s cancellation of fall Anne Arundel County on July 24 anpletely out of any of our hands. Nothing I and winter sports: The state’s largest nounced that they were delaying the fall can do about it as a coach, and it’s just an school district nixed those seasons July 21, season. odd time, and we’re all just trying to feel as it will conduct online-only learning However, the Howard County school our way through,” he said. through at least Jan. 29. system announced in a press release that

“I certainly feel really bad for those “At the end of the day, we didn’t do what the “decision by the state supersedes any seniors, you absolutely do. ... We have to Montgomery County did, canceling, saying decisions by local school districts. Theretake it on the chin now, so that we at least we’re not doing anything,” Maynard said. fore, athletic competition will not occur get something down the road, the foresee“That’s a good thing. All you can hope for is: until the second semester at the earliest.” able future anyway.” At least, give us a chance to reevaluate. It’s Numerous high school governing bodies

Herman “Tree” Harried, athletic direckind of extreme to cancel something now. across the country have been postponing or tor and longtime boys basketball coach at You never know. Things could change.” canceling their fall sports seasons, though Lake Clifton in Baltimore City, said the One of Maynard’s rising seniors, forward some will forge forward. absence of sports bring on concerns much Jake Koverman, lost his junior season to The Washington Catholic Athletic Conmore significant than any wins and losses. injury. Maynard considers him a Division I ference, which features numerous private

“I’m just sad and feel bad for our young prospect, making this winter especially high schools in the D.C. metro area, people as well as being concerned for our important to Koverman’s future. announced last Tuesday that it will cancel young people because now they’re working Koverman is still likewise hopeful for a the fall sports season and wrote in a virtually from home, and they don’t have basketball season, perhaps in the spring. In statement it is “currently exploring various athletics either,” he said. “Sports occupies a the meantime, he’ll work on defensive and scheduling options with a start date of lot of their time, helps keep them out of offensive skills on his own and take part in January 1, 2021.” trouble and gives them a focus .... Now, they tournaments here and there, such as one in Last month, the District of Columbia don’t have that. They don’t have the Pennsylvania later this week. State Athletic Association chose to shift all personal interaction with their teachers “It affects a lot, but I still work hard,” of its athletics until January, while the and coaches, people that help guide them Koverman said. “Coach Will will still look Virginia High School League decided last along with their family members.” out for the best for me. Either way, I’ll still Monday that it will play three condensed

“It’s providing them with a comfort zone have the best opportunity and still get seasons starting Dec. 28. when they’re dealing with things at home, college looks.” The California Interscholastic Federaor other issues. We serve as a safety net to Meade football coach Mike Francis is tion announced July 27 Monday last these kids, and now the net has been taken equally optimistic for spring play and fully Monday the start of the high school sports away from them. We can talk to them on understands why the season had to be season will be delayed until December or the phone or virtually, but that personal postponed. January, and in Texas high school football contact and seeing them, it’s totally differ”All I’m concerned about is the kids not seasons for schools with large enrollments ent.” able to enjoy their senior year, and all those will be delayed a month, although smaller

Boys basketball coach Will Maynard of others guys, too, coming up from JV. It’s schools will be allowed to start their Southern High School in Anne Arundel just sad they’ll miss out on the experience,” football seasons on time.

County expected this mandate from the Francis said. “But I’ll always say safety is state. still the priority. It does me no good to have

“As selfishly as we all want to play, it’s not a state championship [ring] and not be alive