OHSAA survey shows schools want to begin as scheduled Aug. 1

Play on!

That was the majority vote in a survey conducted by the Ohio High School Athletic Association this week.

Forty percent (611 of 1,519) of those polled in the OHSAA’s administrator’s survey voted to start fall sports as planned on Aug. 1, while 31 percent (477 of 1,519) voted to delay the start of all fall sports programs as appropriate and begin when/if conditions change.

The question was one of six that was part of the OHSAA survey sent out to member schools earlier this week. Superintendents, principals and athletic directors for the OHSAA’s 817 high schools and 873 junior highs were eligible to vote.

Some questions received more vote/participation than others.

While 41 percent voted for starting all sports as schedule on Aug. 1 and 31 percent favored a delay, 17 percent (265) voted to pursue a plan to move spring low/non-contact sports to fall and move fall contact sports (such as football and soccer) to spring.

Additionally, 11 percent (166) voted to cancel fall sports and decide later when/if conditions change.

• When asked more specifically — whether low/ non-contact sports such as golf, tennis and volleyball may begin as scheduled on Aug. 1, voting still leaned heavy to play resuming as scheduled.

Forty-four percent (664 of 1,504) voted for the low/ non-contact sports to resume as scheduled, with contact sports as appropriate when/if conditions change. Seventeen percent (255 of 1,504) voted to delay the start of low/ non-contact sports as well as contact sports when/if conditions change.

• Voting results also showed that 39 percent (589 of 1,500) are in favor of at least one scrimmage for contact sports. Thirty percent (455 of 1,500) have no preference, and 31 percent (466 of 1,500) favor no scrimmages.

It should be noted the OHSAA indefinitely suspended scrimmages for contact sports (such as football and soccer) earlier this week.

• When asked if there is a delay to the fall sports season, which preference does your school have, 40 percent (594 of 1,498) voted for a two-week delay, 32 percent (475 of 1,498) voted for a fourweek delay, 17 percent voted for a two-month delay and 12 percent voted for a three-week delay.

• When asked if fall sports operate but are shortened, the leading vote-getter (614 of 1,498, or 41 percent) was reducing the regular season and maintaining a full OHSAA tournament.

• The OHSAA also asked if anyone — student or adult — tested positive during on-campus sports activities this summer. A total of 1,330 responded “no” while 169 responded “yes.”