A day following Governor Mike DeWine’s approval of contact sports (i.e., field hockey, football and soccer), Bob Goldring, the interim Director of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, met with the media via a Zoom conference call. Litter Media was on the call.
The option to play in the spring creates a new issue for the OHSAA. When asked if there would be a playoff for schools opting for spring and if the fall season were to be interrupted, if those playing would be able to play in the new spring arrangement. It was just one of the topics covered.
Goldring says don’t look for championships for a spring season for the sports which otherwise would play in fall. “Our intention isn’t to offer another tournament opportunity.” As long as they’re able to hold their post season during the fall season, those would be the champions for the sport. “We don’t know what lies ahead with COVID or what lies ahead with what opportunities we’re going to provide. Our main focus is this fall, providing our normal tournament opportunities as they’ve been offered in the past. We want to encourage schools as much as they feel it’s safe and they feel it’s reasonable to go ahead and participate this fall.
On a conference call Tuesday night with coaches and athletic administrators, the Governor reminded the schools there would be limited spectators, permitting only four family members or loved ones close to each player, in addition to cheerleaders, the marching bands and coaches. When asked about the same for those limitations for the families of cheerleaders and band members, Goldring said they were waiting the Health Director’s Order which had yet to be released for review to be able to give a direct answer to those participants. The capacity for a school’s permanent seating will also factor into who will be permitted as spectators.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that the following order has been signed by Ohio Department of Health Interim Director Lance Himes:
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that he will sign a new Ohio Department of Health order that permits contact sports, including the fall sports of field hockey, soccer and football, to move forward with games against other schools. The Governor confirmed support for Ohio’s coaches to inspire their student-athletes to continue following safety precautions so that all sports can be played.
Field hockey, soccer and football now join the OHSAA’s previously approved fall sports of girls and boys golf, girls tennis, girls volleyball, and girls and boys cross country. With the majority of high schools in Ohio wanting to play sports this fall, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has been working with the Governor’s Office and the Ohio Department of Health toward a new health order that contains modifications from previous orders.
“I hope that the desire to have a season will inspire our young people, our athletes, our student-athletes, 24/7 to be as careful as they can,” said Governor DeWine during his press conference Tuesday. “I hope also that our coaches will use this an opportunity to focus on helping these young people understand what really is at stake. If they are going to be able to play, that they are going to have to do everything they can to keep COVID out of their team.”
“The OHSAA is moving forward because we want kids to have an opportunity to participate, and the Governor’s Office is providing that opportunity and a chance,” said Bob Goldring, OHSAA Interim Executive Director. “So for that we are most appreciative. It’s important to remember that our student-athletes have been practicing and training with others for weeks and even months, and it has gone well. So, we believe they deserve the chance to move forward, and that the high school space is also different than the collegiate space.”
The OHSAA staff has developed sport-specific modifications and recommendations for schools when conducting interscholastic competition. Links to these sport-specific documents were originally included in the July 22 memo when we released the Return to Play Recommendations document. Links to updated sport-specific requirements, modifications and recommendations are posted at: https://ohsaa.org/Home/OHSAA-COVID-19-Correspondence
“COVID-19 certainly has created a risk factor, and that is something on which each family has to decide for their student, and each local school district has to make decisions on moving forward based on all the information they have been presented,” Goldring continued. “But we also believe our student-athletes, coaches and school administrators – in education-based programs – are suited to be the best advocates for safety, strongly promoting and following mandates and recommendations to wear facial coverings, stay socially distanced and so forth. Our coaches, especially, are role models to so many of our student-athletes. So hopefully our student-athletes will follow their lead and guidance, especially when they talk to students about what to consider away from school.”
“The driving force that will inspire our young men, our young women, to make the right decisions in their lives 24/7 that will inspire them to have the best chance they can to play their sport,” DeWine continued. “To the coaches, you, in a normal year, inspire, you mentor, you instruct, you instill discipline and self-discipline in your student-athletes. For all of that, we are very grateful for what you do. You make a lot of sacrifices, work long hours and you inspire our kids. We thank you very much for that. But this year, it’s going to take more. It’s going to be inspiring them in regards to the goal of keeping COVID out of their team.”
OHSAA fall sports seasons as scheduled to begin as follows:
Friday, Aug. 21:soccer and field hockey
Monday, Aug. 24: volleyball, cross country and football
Note: golf and girls tennis seasons have already started
COVID-19 General Guidance (Including Mandates and Recommended Best Practices)
As Governor DeWine also noted, the Governor’s Office and Department of Health are close to finalizing a new Health Director’s Order. With that comes two separate mandates and recommended best practices documents for schools to follow for competitions, and the OHSAA could issue consequences for the violation of these requirements as prescribed in Bylaw 11, Penalties. The mandates and recommended best practices are related to many of the same mandates and protocols already in place for many other sectors as they relate to symptom assessments; facial coverings; social distancing; cleaning and sanitizing, and confirmed COVID-19 cases/exposure to the virus. The final versions of those two documents will be sent to schools on Wednesday.
The Governor understands that interscholastic sports are different than other forms of competition because we are education-based and are able to implement best safety practices and have structure in place for dealing with COVID-19 restrictions. So, if we want our students to have the privilege of competing in interscholastic athletics, it’s going to be up to all of us to make sure all mandates and protocols are being followed. We all need to be diligent and be disciplined.
Capacity Limitations/Students Dressing for Contests Limitations/Bands Restrictions
Spectator capacity for our events will be limited, with the specific details to be listed in the guidance pieces. As Governor DeWine mentioned today, an emphasis will be on allowing families and loved ones to see students participate. In addition, OHSAA requirements, based on guidance from the Governor’s Office, is for schools to limit the number of players dressing for contests. The limits are 60 in football; 22 in soccer and field hockey, and 15 in volleyball. In addition, the OHSAA, based on guidance from the Governor’s Office, is limiting marching and/or pep bands to performing only at home contests.
Questions and Answers on Why Are We Moving Forward
Originally developed as part of the July 31 Administrator Update when the OHSAA affirmed its position of starting our practices as planned, the OHSAA has updated a series of questions and answers related to why we are moving forward with our seasons. All scenarios have been discussed and, in making its decision, the OHSAA has had great collaboration with the Governor’s Office; Ohio Department of Health; the National Federation of State High School Associations; our colleagues at other state high school athletics/activities associations; members of the OHSAA’s Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine, and members of the Governor’s Sports League Advisory Group. A series of questions and answers are posted at: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/Sports/2020/OHSAAReturnToPlayQA.pdf
Clarity on “Spring Seasons”
As Governor DeWine noted today, the OHSAA is prepared to remove the impediments in our bylaws and regulations that would otherwise preclude schools from playing fall sports in the spring. In other words, schools that have opted out of fall sports participation due to the pandemic – meaning the school has not participated in fall sports during the currently defined fall season – will have an opportunity to play their sports in the spring. However, a task force will be needed to work with our staff to create certain parameters to see what those spring sports opportunities look like. As the pandemic has proved, this is an evolving situation, so more details will be shared with the membership when appropriate.
Governor Mike DeWine gave the go ahead for contact sports this fall, with the option for schools wishing to play in spring of 2021.
In his COVID-19 Response News Conference Tuesday, DeWine said his team conferred with medical professionals, schools, parents, coaches and students before announcing the decision. During the discussions, he said many schools requested the option of playing in spring.
A number of urban area schools districts have either suspended or cancelled their fall sports programs.
As for playing this fall, soccer begins August 21st and football the week of August 24th. The Governor said spectators will be limited to family or those very close of the athletes as well as cheerleaders, drill teams and marching bands.
DeWine added the decline in COVID-19 numbers statewide played a part in his decision to move forward with the order.
The Governor and Lt. Governor Jon Husted were scheduled to speak with coaches and athletic directors across the state in a conference call this afternoon. In his message he wants to remind them to “be flexible, make this work. If it doesn’t work… it doesn’t work – pull back. If you’re not too far into the season, maybe you can move over to try to do it in the sporing. We’ve got to be flexible because we’re dealing with so many tings that are unknown.”
GEORGETOWN VETERANS HOME:
Governor DeWine announced a confirmed case of COVID-19 at the Ohio Veteran’s home in Georgetown (Brown County). An employee tested positive, and two other employees may have been exposed to this individual. The Ohio Department of Veterans Services put additional safety measures in place at the home and they are tracking potential exposures. All residents in the unit where this employee works are being tested, as are the residents in the two other units where the potentially exposed employees are assigned.
OHIO GOVERNOR’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY:
First Lady Fran DeWine joined Governor DeWine today with an update on the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library. The Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library is approaching it’s one-year anniversary and is now available in 78 of Ohio’s 88 counties.
With help from the Ohio General Assembly and local partners throughout the state, the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library has expanded throughout the state and about 191,000 children are receiving a book in the mail monthly. Last summer, the program was only available in pockets throughout the state and about 93,000 children were enrolled at the time.
CENTINNIAL OF WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE:
Governor DeWine reminded Ohioans that today marks the 100th anniversary of the 19thamendment. He encouraged Ohioans to learn more about the history of the women’s suffrage movement by visiting the Ohio History Connection webpage, ohiohistory.org. Governor DeWine also announced that TourismOhio has created a women’s history road trip to mark the centennial. It can be found at ohio.org.
CURRENT COVID-19 DATA:
There are 109,923 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio and 3,871 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths. A total of 12,436 people have been hospitalized, including 2,805 admissions to intensive care units. In-depth data can be accessed by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Video of today’s full update, including versions with foreign language translation, can be viewed on the Ohio Channel’s YouTube page.
For more information on Ohio’s response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
The Miami Trace Panthers have a final huddle before facing the Jackson Ironmen in a 2019 Frontier Athletic Conference game. Photo by Dan Ramey/Litter Media
“The waiting is the hardest part” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Governor DeWine told reporters during his COVID-19 Response News Conference, he would address contact sports for Fall in his Tuesday session. Meanwhile, football and soccer teams across the state continue to practice for what they hope will be a season.
The Governor did however give a bit of a preview saying the decision would be made by parents and by schools. “We’re going to restrict the number of fans. We want the athletes to compete. We want the young people to have their season. But we want to do it as safely as possible, so this will be a little disruptive for some people.”
One of the priorities pertaining to fan participation, DeWine said his team wants to make sure parents can see their kids play, “and for the rest of us, we’ll have to hear about the game or maybe we can pick it up on the internet… But, it’s about the kids.”
The Governor delivered hope for the details to be worked out this weekend forTuesday’s News Conference. Soccer’s calendar permitted teams to have their first matches after August 21st, but they’ve been suspended until a decision from the Statehouse. Football’s regular season is set to begin the following week, with most teams across Southern Ohio set to play August 28th.
“We’ve been working with the Ohio High School Athletic Association to get it right, to provide guidelines to make it as safe as possible.” DeWine said he had a great deal of confidence in the coaches and plans to have a call with some of Ohio’s coaches over the next few days.
“They really have the opportunity not just in practice and not just in the game tom impress upon their athletes the importance of keeping their distance and being safe. But it’s also important what young people do when they’re not playing” referring to during their down time away from the playing fields.
“We always look to our coaches for leadership” DeWine continued, “in an era of the pandemic, leadership and fighting the coronavirus is probably their most important job this year.”
The Scioto Valley Conference released a statement regarding contact sports Wednesday afternoon.
“As of today, there is a Testing Mandate (Covid-19) from the Ohio Department of Health. As long as this mandate is in place there will be no contact sports. For the SVC that means soccer and football.”
The release added “If the mandate is lifted, soccer will be played as scheduled. Football will have a modified schedule. League games will begin Friday August 28. League games will continue through Friday October 2. These six league dates will determine the league championship. October 9 all SVC schools will be participating in the State playoffs. The seventh league game (October 16) will be optional for schools to play or not. As circumstances change, adjusts may need to be made.”
As for rest SVC sanctioned fall sports (golf, girls tennis, cross country and volleyball) they will go on as scheduled. The exception is the SVC Volleyball Preview which has been cancelled.
Since Friday’s announcement by the OHSAA and its plan for six regular season games with all football teams being eligible for the post season beginning October 9th, leagues are juggling their schedules.
The Frontier Athletic Conference released its schedule Monday, leaving the first week open for non-conference games and essentially moving the conference games up from October 2nd on its previous schedule.
One source tells Litter Media the Ohio Valley Conference has elected to play six league games. Another says the Scioto Valley Conference will play a six game conference schedule and play a seventh after the playoffs begin and teams are eliminated.
The Mid State League was actively reworking its football schedule Monday.
Governor Mike DeWine danced around the topic of high school football when asked by reporters in his Tuesday news conference. It was speculated the Governor would address the topic today, but now football fans as well as the other fall contact sports (soccer and field hockey) will likely have to wait until his next news conference, Thursday.
Meanwhile, school versus school scrimmages have been scrapped and the shuffling with schedules continues for athletic directors across the state.
The Frontier Athletic Conference revamped schedule:
WEEK 1 – August 28: Wheelersburg at Chillicothe, Hillsboro at Western Brown, Jackson at Logan, Eastern Pike at McClain, Circleville at Miami Trace, Washington CH at Minford.
WEEK 2 – September 4: Washington CH at Chillicothe, Jackson at McClain, Hillsboro at Miami Trace
WEEK 3 – September 11: Chillicothe at Hillsboro, McClain at Miami Trace, Washington CH at Jackson
WEEK 4 – September 18: Chillicothe at McClain, Hillsboro at Washington CH, Miami Trace at Jackson
WEEK 5 – September 25: Miami Trace at Chillicothe, Hillsboro at Jackson, McClain at Washington CH
WEEK 6 – October 2: Jackson at Chillicothe, McClain at Hillsboro, Miami Trace at Washington CH
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Following a recommendation this week from the Governor’s Office to shorten the season due to concerns that COVID-19 may spike in early winter, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced Friday that if high school football games are approved by the Governor, all teams will enter the playoffs beginning October 9 and the state championship games will be played no later than November 21.
The OHSAA Board of Directors, which assisted OHSAA staff to create the proposal and approved it by a 9-0 vote, considers this a win-win situation for all schools since it will not matter how many games each team has played leading up to the playoffs. Instead of the computer ratings system determining which teams qualify for the playoffs, the coaches in each region will conduct a tournament seed meeting the week of September 28 to form the regional bracket, similar to the process in other OHSAA team sports.
Schools may keep their first six previously scheduled games, but all regular-season football contracts are now voidable by either school, especially in the event that conferences redo their league schedules to fit into the first six weeks. In addition, the OHSAA will determine new playoff regions in September. Schools that are eliminated from the playoffs may continue to schedule regular-season games up until November 14.
Schools that have currently paused sports could still begin their season in September or early October and compete in the playoffs. Schools are not required to enter the playoffs if they would rather play regular-season games up until November 14.
“To both ensure we can offer students the opportunity to participate in education-based athletes but do so with their best interests in mind, we believe this modified plan offers a positive solution by addressing many of the concerns of our member schools,” said Jeff Cassella, president of the OHSAA Board of Directors and athletic administrator at Mentor High School. “Those that are able to start their seasons on time will be able to do so. Those that are starting later can still have a season. Add in the option of all schools entering the playoffs and the possibility of schools still being able to play 10 regular season contests, and this plan is helpful to virtually all of our schools.”
The highest number of responses to one of the questions posed of superintendents, principals and athletic administrators in a recent OHSAA membership survey indicated that nearly 60 percent (890 of 1,498 respondents) favored either reducing the regular season and maintaining full OHSAA tournaments or maintaining the full regular season and maintaining full OHSAA tournaments.
A decision on spectators at contact sports has not yet been made, however the OHSAA believes that at a minimum parents should be permitted to attend.
As a reminder, four of the OHSAA’s fall sports have been determined to be low-contact by the Governor’s Office and thus are permitted to have contests with other schools, including golf, tennis, volleyball and cross country. The OHSAA’s fall sports of field hockey, soccer and football have been determined to be high-contact sports and the OHSAA continues to work with the Governor’s Office and the Ohio Department of Health toward modified protocols for those three sports to have contests.
• Regular-season games will begin the week of August 24 (same regular-season starting date).
• All teams eligible to enter the OHSAA playoffs. New regions will be determined in September.
• Number of playoff rounds dependent upon the number of schools entering the playoffs in each division. Coaches in each region will seed all playoff teams in the region to form a bracket, similar to other OHSAA sports.
• Schools eliminated from the OHSAA playoffs or that choose not to enter the OHSAA playoffs have the option to schedule additional regular season contests through Saturday, November 14 (maximum of 10 regular season contests permitted).
• Regular season Week 1: Week of August 24
• Regular season Week 2: Week of August 31
• Regular season Week 3: Week of September 7
• Regular season Week 4: Week of September 14
• Regular season Week 5: Week of September 21
• Regular season Week 6: Week of September 28
• Playoffs begin Friday, October 9
• State finals end no later than Saturday, Nov. 21
Other Playoff Details
• Playoff seeding will be via a vote of the coaches the week of September 28 (Harbin Ratings suspended for 2020 season)
• All playoff contests through the regional semifinals (and possibly the regional finals) will be hosted by the higher seeded team
• Schools must commit to participate in the playoffs by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, September 17
• Playoff regions will be drawn on Friday, September 18
• Schools may withdraw from the playoffs without penalty until Thursday, September 24
In late July, new lighting began to take shape as another improvement to the Myrl Shoemaker Athletic Complex at Huntington Local Schools.
In 2019, the baseball field received a makeover, but due to the coronavirus outbreak, the field never saw action as the 2020 spring season was cancelled by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
The stanchions were put in place August 4th with hopes of illuminating Earl Knight Field for the 2020 football season.
New lighting, wired and ready for install July 29, 2020. Photo by Dan Ramey/Litter MediaEarl Knight Field awaits game action with Chesapeake Friday August 28th, 2020. Photo by Dan Ramey/Litter Media
