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I've spent months researching, discussing and dissecting the @SCHSL's return to play, and after having some extremely delicate conversations in the last few days, I've come up with what I feel is the most feasible plan.
Let's have at it...
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Let's have at it...
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First, understand that this is a greater good plan. A bunch of y'all are going to hate it, and that's OK. But keep in mind that the current environment is forcing our hand.
We can either make a move now, or we can scramble later and find ourselves even more out of whack.
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We can either make a move now, or we can scramble later and find ourselves even more out of whack.
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It's time that we put fall sports on hiatus. Not cancel, but postpone. It is clear to me that another month of raging positive tests in pockets of the state aren't going anywhere. Our largest conglomerates of schools are in panic mode for academics, let alone sports.
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Football, volleyball, XC, etc., need to be put on hold.
So here is what I propose, take the fall sports and push them to the late-winter/early spring. Get through first semester of the academic calendar and then open their practice seasons.
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So here is what I propose, take the fall sports and push them to the late-winter/early spring. Get through first semester of the academic calendar and then open their practice seasons.
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We can leave the winter sports of hoops and wrestling as is for now, because they have the luxury of time on their side.
But we'll get back to them later.
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But we'll get back to them later.
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But back to our fall sports...
Take their seasons and cut them in half. Region contests take precedent, and we can formulate an amended postseason, most likely some form of region championship and/or bowl-type system.
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Take their seasons and cut them in half. Region contests take precedent, and we can formulate an amended postseason, most likely some form of region championship and/or bowl-type system.
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What I've heard over in the last few weeks is for us to move the spring sports to the fall.
I don't believe this works.
The school-related issues are going to be there, and with the chance of e-learning still in place, we shouldn't sacrifice those sports for football.
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I don't believe this works.
The school-related issues are going to be there, and with the chance of e-learning still in place, we shouldn't sacrifice those sports for football.
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To be clear, football needs to happen in most places to fund the other sports.
However, this entire plan requires sacrifice all the way around.
This is where that comes into play:
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However, this entire plan requires sacrifice all the way around.
This is where that comes into play:
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I propose that the SCHSL immediately cut down every sport to a half regular season for every varsity sport.
Winter, spring and fall.
Postseasons can vary here and there to allow them to happen, but eliminating regular-season requirements lets the plan move forward.
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Winter, spring and fall.
Postseasons can vary here and there to allow them to happen, but eliminating regular-season requirements lets the plan move forward.
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For the entire 2020-2021 academic calendar, each sport would be reduced, but not eliminated.
And by doing that, you can then utilize physical February-May calendar (and possibly dip into June) to play each and every varsity sport.
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And by doing that, you can then utilize physical February-May calendar (and possibly dip into June) to play each and every varsity sport.
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If you cut down the number of regular-season contests by half, you allow for field use by multiple sports in a smaller window, even at some of the more field-hampered programs.
Districts can also share facilities.
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Districts can also share facilities.
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There would be some concerns with officials, as many of them ref multiple sports, but, again, limiting the number of events (and amending some of the requirements for officials) would help there, too.
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All of the money that is spent keeping up football fields during the fall could then be funneled into the spring.
Schools that have soccer could then keep up with wear and tear, but also have time to plan alternate facilities.
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Schools that have soccer could then keep up with wear and tear, but also have time to plan alternate facilities.
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So, what happens if COVID is still kicking our ass in October?
We push back the winter sports slate, too. However, if we're only moving half of those schedules to the spring, we can make it work a tad easier.
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We push back the winter sports slate, too. However, if we're only moving half of those schedules to the spring, we can make it work a tad easier.
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This plan isn't perfect. But COVID is proving that we're underprepared.
Pushing forward with the fall sports as is right now to me seems reckless. And sort of like a waste of time.
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Pushing forward with the fall sports as is right now to me seems reckless. And sort of like a waste of time.
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Administrators right now are nervous as hell right now about how to get kids in classrooms. Sports is secondary.
We can either address it now or wait until mid-late July before we determine we can't go forward.
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We can either address it now or wait until mid-late July before we determine we can't go forward.
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This is a stretch, and I'm sure it won't be adopted. Too many people are screaming "Let them play!" without thoughts to what happens if we simply can't or they aren't allowed.
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I believe that buying ourselves time is the way to go. The seniors get their final season - or at least the shell of one - without sacrificing it entirely.
Those who are trying to earn scholarships still get that opportunity.
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Those who are trying to earn scholarships still get that opportunity.
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The coaches who are paid to do a job get six months to learn how to do it under the most unthinkable scenario possible.
The ADs who are scared about money know that gates are on the horizon instead of evaporated from the books.
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The ADs who are scared about money know that gates are on the horizon instead of evaporated from the books.
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And our kids who want and need to play sports understand that they aren't being eliminated, just going to be played a bit later than normal.
COVID has changed the game.
Let's change, too.
Thoughts?
20/20
COVID has changed the game.
Let's change, too.
Thoughts?
20/20
