Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Central League takes big step forward
Each member school must still vote whether or not to play
Conestoga High School field hockey head coach Regan Teti Marscher had a great Monday, upon hearing the league’s announcement of a plan to return to fall sports.
“I think it’s a great victory for the kids in our area,” said Marscher. “We had a voluntary practice today where I shared the news with the kids, and they were all so excited – they were out of their skin with excitement.”
The plan calls for a league-only competition schedule this fall, with preseason practices to begin Sept. 29. In lieu of the league’s athletes competing in PIAA playoff events, the Central League instead will construct culminating events such as playoffs.
Each school board in the Central League will now have to approve participation for its student-athletes.
The next Tredyffrin-Easttown school board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29.
“As I see it, there are two ways to look at the plan – you can be grateful to play, or you can be upset that there are no [PIAA] playoffs – and we’re happy,” said Marscher. “We’re particularly happy for our seniors to be playing this fall, and we’re looking forward to starting practices Sept. 29.”
Last week, the Central League athletic directors and administration worked collaboratively to create what they called “a systematic and phased approach that allows for a staggered return to competitive sports for the fall 2020 season.”
The return of fall sports was influenced by the Chester County Health Department’s revised language for interscholastic athletics, The health department no longer recommends the cancellation of sports until 2021. The guidelines were changed to reflect the guidance of the PIAA, which allowed the start of fall sports in August.
Marscher said, “We’ve been having a lot of fun with our voluntary practices — for some of the kids, it’s the only time they’re able to connect with their classmates. But as a coach for 20 years, you’d like to be able to see them have some competitive experience in games too.”
In Monday’s Central League announcement, it was stated, “The Central League drafted a league-wide return to competition plan to work in conjunction with each school district’s individual school Health and Safety plans. The Central League will continue to monitor the recommendations from the PIAA, PDE and county/ state health departments and adjust accordingly. Adoption of the Central League return to competition plan is subject to individual school district’s approval.”
The first practice date for golf, girls tennis, field hockey, boys and girls soccer, volleyball and cross country is Tuesday, Sept. 29. The first regular season competition date for golf is Friday, Oct. 1. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 29, football teams will be required to hold three weeks of practice before playing a game.
While subject to change, the final competition dates for all sports are as follows: Oct. 26 (golf), Oct. 31 (girls tennis), Nov. 7 (cross country), Nov. 21 (field hockey, soccer, volleyball) and Nov. 28 (football and cheerleading).
One Central League fall sport that is held indoors is girls’ volleyball, and Conestoga head coach Diana Felker noted, “We’re waiting on the district [Tredyffrin Easttown School District] to determine whether we can go inside. Hopefully they’ll make a decision this week. We’ve been having voluntary practices out on the grass for the last month and a half, 2-3 times a week.”
“As I see it, there are two ways to look at the plan – you can be grateful to play, or you can be upset that there are no [PIAA] playoffs – and we’re happy. We’re particularly happy for our seniors to be playing this fall, and we’re looking forward to starting practices Sept. 29.” — Conestoga field hockey head coach Regan Teti Marscher