Fall sports amid the virus ... so far, PIAA says it’s OK to play
The PIAA’s surprise announcement Wednesday to “stay the course” as it pertains to fall sports was met with a polarizing response.
Many were thrilled the PIAA took action and unequivocally stated there will be sports in August, unless directed otherwise by the state politicians. And many others were outraged and complaining that the PIAA is not looking out for the best interests of studentathletes during the ongoing pandemic.
Both sides have their points.
Yes, it’s clear that coronavirus is here to stay ... at least for a while. It’s very difficult to imagine how football and other contact sports will look. Waivers will be signed and tests will be conducted on a daily basis. Everything now falls on individual school districts who have designed health and safety plans for their student athletes.
It’s the new normal. On the other hand, the news comes as a breath of fresh air and a huge weight lifted off the student-athletes. You can’t blame any of them for being upset at the prospect of seeing their fall sport canceled, just as you can’t blame them for being overwhelmed with joy about the PIAA’s decision to move forward.
High school students need activity. Ask anyone who they feel sorry for the most during these last several months and the answer you’ll likely get is straightforward: the kids.
For now, there’s a positive outlook. They will have the chance to get outside and work out with their teammates and friends. While it remains important for high school students to be taught about the seriousness of the coronavirus, it’s perfectly OK to let them feel a sense of freedom again.
“It was heart-wrenching to see the seniors last spring miss out on all of those opportunities. Not just the seniors, but all the kids who participate in not just sports, but any extra-curricular activities in school,” said Garnet Valley football coach Mike Ricci, who has been mentoring, teaching and coaching high school students for more than 30 years. “I’ve said all along that it’s a shame because the least-affected by the virus are the kids and the most affected by the shutdown are the kids. So, to have some light at the end of the tunnel and to maybe get some normalcy back in their lives, to have the camaraderie they get from being a part of a team, to have the discipline and the structure that being a part of a team provides, I think it’s going to be huge for their mental outlook and just for them to have a sense of normalcy in their lives.”
The first full week PIAA fall practices begins Monday, Aug. 17. Football teams will participate in a week of heat acclimatization starting Monday, Aug. 10.
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Many matheads aren’t pleased with the PIAA’s decision to unanimously approve a reduction of weight classes from 14 to
13. Weight classes from 106 to 160 remain unchanged, 170 moves to
172, and 220 drops to 215. Two weight classes, 182 and 195, will combine to form the 189-pound weight class.
The changes were done to help prevent the growing number of forfeits in dual meets. It also underscores the reality that wrestling is suffering in numbers at the high school level in Pennsylvania, despite the growing popularity in the sport among girls.
Ultimately, cutting out one weight class isn’t a good look for the PIAA. All it does is dissuade studentathletes from seeking opportunities to participate in a sport that could use a jolt in their participation numbers.
Be angry, wrestling fans. You are justified.
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So, I have covered two local baseball games — both of the Delco League variety — and carefully observed the behavior of players and fans in attendance. The players are doing a good job following protocols, for the most part.
At Church Road Field in Springfield Thursday, players who weren’t involved in the game from Springfield and visiting Narberth sat in lawn chairs, away from the bench, where the active players congregated. Minimal contact and safe distancing was practiced when it came to celebrations and the like. Nobody is bro-hugging or slapping hands too much, I don’t think.
But the fans ... oh boy, the fans.
The majority don’t even bother wearing masks, which I suppose is OK so long as you’re not a part of a big crowd. But if you’re concerned about the coronavirus and want to exercise caution, beware that the wide majority of folks watching these games don’t appear to feel the same, at least from what I could observe.