Valley coaches hold off on high-fives
PIAA approves, but leagues, school boards still must green-light games
Emmaus High School girls soccer coach Sarah Oswald heard the PIAA news like the rest of the local sports world on Friday, but a day later, still hadn’t fully processed it.
That’s because Oswald knows that despite the PIAA’s go-ahead to proceed with fall sports, the decision ultimately lies with the superintendents and school boards of each district.
“There are still some unknowns out there,” Oswald said. “We still don’t know when the EPC [Eastern Pennsylvania Conference] is going to let us start as opposed to when the PIAA said we can start. So that’s my biggest question. Can I start on Monday? Or do I have to abide by the EPC?”
The PIAA voted 25-5 to proceed with a fall sports schedule with practice starting as early as Monday for sports other than football and with the heat acclimatization period for the football athletes. Golf matches could begin as early as Thursday and tennis competition can start on Aug. 31, with all other sports, including football, allowed to stage games as early as Sept. 11.
However, the PIAA board stipulated that the “decision to compete in athletics should be made locally allowing for each school entity to decide whether to proceed and which sports to sponsor.”
It also unanimously passed a proposal that would allow school districts to move fall sports seasons to another time of year.
The EPC decided on Aug. 4 to delay the start of fall sports even before Gov. Tom Wolf made a “strong recommendation” to suspend all sports until Jan. 1.
The EPC voted unanimously for a delay that would postpone the start of contests in field hockey, soccer and girls volleyball to Sept. 25 and football until Oct. 2.
A few days later, the Colonial League voted to proceed with fall sports, but several schools said they were also going to do it on a delayed basis. That’s why Colonial League officials plan to
meet on Monday to discuss schedules.
There was also a meeting of local superintendents on Friday, and one area athletic director who requested anonymity said he didn’t like the decision that was likely to come from that meeting.
So, despite the smiling faces of kids, parents and coaches who celebrated the PIAA vote on Friday, there is no guarantee student-athletes are going to play.
The roller-coaster ride of uncertainty they have been on for months as they worked out and followed the state-mandated COVID-19 restrictions and protocols may continue, at least at some schools.
“We’re hoping to get some clarity soon,” Oswald said. “There has definitely been a lot of weeks this summer with unknowns at the end. We knew there was a meeting coming and we know people are making decisions on whether we can play or not. So the focus has been to make sure that when we’re on the field together, we’re doing what we need to do to prepare to move on, but we’re also trying to enjoy our time together in case we’re cut short.”
The PIAA basketball tournament and swimming championships were cut short by the coronavirus outbreak in March. The spring sports schedule was ended before one regular-season game was played.
However, as Wolf’s reopening plan was instituted and counties across the state went from the red to yellow to green phases, sports activities resumed both among high school teams and club programs.
Locally, high school softball and baseball tournaments were held and volleyball, lacrosse, basketball and other sports have run tournaments.
High school programs resumed with strict guidelines in place.
And even as the PIAA voted for fall sports to resume, it issued the reminder that, “Those individuals who have strongly advocated for athletics must keep strict adherence to school health and safety plans. All individuals involved in interscholastic athletic communities have a role in the health and wellness of all participants.”
If fall sports are going to have anything resembling a normal season, scholastic teams must avoid any health-related issues.
Northwestern Lehigh High School football coach Josh Snyder
“There has definitely been a lot of weeks this summer with unknowns at the end.” — Sarah Oswald, Emmaus High School girls soccer coach
said it has been a difficult summer and he has tried to keep players focused on their sport while uncertainty swirled around them.
That’s why Snyder was happy for kids when he heard Friday’s news.
“They deserve the chance to play some games and have a return to some sort of normalcy because we all know how important sports are to this country and this area,” he said. “Kudos to everyone who was involved in this movement in letting the kids play. I’m excited about the chance to get kids out on the field for exercise and the first time to do something meaningful in about a half a year.”
Snyder said he’s had 50 kids out practicing three times a week for two months and his coaches have been wearing face coverings and doing everything asked of them.
“It’s not easy because it has been real hot this summer, but the alternative is that we don’t get to do this,” Snyder said. “We harp on doing the right things, all the little things, all the time in football even before COVID-19. This is just another thing we have to do. If you have to breathe through fabric to give yourself the chance to coach and play a game you love, that’s a small sacrifice.”
However, some school districts will not allow regular practices to start on Monday and might follow the path of the Philadelphia Public League, and Harrisburg, Cheltenham, Reading and other districts in not playing at all.
Snyder, meanwhile, said he just hopes to play some games, adding: “We’ll play anyone, anywhere wherever they want.”
He also said the Colonial League athletic directors have their work cut out for them.
“They have to figure out who’s opting in, who’s opting out, who’s delaying and who’s going on time,” Snyder said. “It won’t be easy putting together a schedule.”