Sport wreck-ommendations

PLYMOUTH - I am going to go crazy if there are no high school sports this fall. I was encouraged though, to see a document put out by a fancy organization with lots of initials who feels the same as I do about the importance and necessity of having high school sports back in its rightful place this fall.

Then I read it.

The National Federation of State High School Associations Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (MFHS SMAC) recently put out a 16-page document with recommendations over three phases that would lead to prep sports running safely and sort of like what we had before. Then I saw Phase 1.

Let me share some of the examples that were given to explain the recommendations. Seriously, these were the examples given. I am not making these up.

•A football player should not participate in team drills with a single ball that will be handed off or passed to other teammates. Contact with other players is not allowed, and there should be no sharing of tackling dummies/donuts/sleds.

•A volleyball player should not use a single ball that others touch or hit in any manner.

•A basketball player can shoot with a ball, but a team should not practice/ pass a single ball among the team where multiple players touch the same ball.

•Softball and baseball players should not throw a single ball that will be tossed among the team. A single player may hit in cages, throw batting practice (with netting as backstop, no catcher). Prior to another athlete using the same balls,

they should be collected and cleaned individually.

•Free weight exercises that require a spotter cannot be conducted while honoring social distancing norms.

•Wrestlers may skill and drill without touching a teammate.

•Cheerleaders may not practice/perform partner stunts.

•Tennis players may do individual drills, wall volleys and serves.

•Runners should maintain the recommended six feet of distancing between individuals.

This isn’t a phase. This is insanity.

Let’s start with football.

No hand-offs or passes. Wait, what? Does the QB start with the ball and then has to run with it? Not a very creative offense. You can’t tackle anyone and everyone will need their own tackling dummie. Don’t think that is happening. If social distancing needs to be in place, what will the linemen splits look like? Think it might be easy for the defense to shoot those gaps? All teams will have to employ the shotgun formation, but again, if no sharing of equipment is allowed, how does the QB get the ball?

For volleyball, no one else can touch the ball. Hmmm. Could be a lot of aces and some quick games.

And basketball? No one else touches the ball? Sounds like the NBA!! Or some YMCA games I used to play in. Who wants that?

I really want to see how they are going to clean a baseball or softball after every throw or catch. Think the game is slow now? A one inning T-ball game will run 5 hours under Phase 1.

Wrestling will be renamed Phantom Wrestling since you cannot touch anyone. “Great headlock on that ghost Bruno!”

Tennis: bring your own tennis balls, find a corner and go at it! Just don’t mix your tennis balls with anyone else. Might have to wash them.

And lastly, running. Always stay six feet apart. I guess nipping someone at the finish line is out. And when you pass someone, you have to go wiiiiiiiide. Stay at least six feet away as you pass and make sure you don’t stop your surge until you are six feet ahead. Or do you have to allow someone to pass you by that much?

Please! Can we find a vaccine or some meds to end this soon???