The COVID-19 pandemic has created a cloud of uncertainty for contact sports in Ohio, with the suspension of school versus school scrimmages. The OHSAA continues to work with the Governor’s Office and Ohio Department of Health on guidelines for safe competition for teams.
In the meantime, Litter Media Sports takes a look back at its football “Game of the Week” features from previous seasons. Find the links for the games below.
Should the 2020 Football season commence, the Litter Media cameras will plan to be there. While at the Litter Media YouTube channel, click the SUBSCRIBE button… it’s FREE, and click the bell icon to receive notification when a new Litter Media video is loaded.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association released a memo to administrators via twitter Friday to push ahead with practices for fall sports beginning Saturday, August 1st.
That means low/non‐contact sports and contact sports will be permitted to begin official practices tomorrow (August 1) as had been previously announced. Additional details on the fall sports seasons are below.
“It is important to keep athletic activity moving forward,” said Dan Leffingwell, president of the OHSAA Board of Directors and superintendent of the Noble Local Schools in Sarahsville. “And with that, we believe our member schools provide our student‐athletes with the safest possible environment to return to play and that our school programs are the best avenue to help students learn lifelong lessons and provide social, emotional and physical benefits that other programs cannot. Moving forward allows those students to continue to be engaged with their school coaches and teammates. Membership data also supports this decision.
“If we were to delay, our students will find opportunities to compete in sports through non‐school programs that may not be focused on safety and are not education‐based,” Leffingwell said. “Should data on COVID‐19 change and/or the Governor’s Office makes changes to our plan, we have flexibility that would allow us to look at implementing other models for our seasons.” Low/Non‐Contact Sports (Golf, Girls Tennis, Volleyball)
Official practices may begin on Saturday, August 1st.
School vs. school scrimmages and/or contests will follow per their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations.
Golf – 1 scrimmage permitted any time during the season; first contest August 5th
Girls Tennis – 1 scrimmage permitted after practice begins and prior to first match; first contest August 7th
Volleyball – 5 scrimmages and 1 preview permitted after practice begins; first contest August 21st
FOOTBALL:
Official practices begin on Saturday August 1st with the normal acclimatization period in place.
No school vs. school scrimmages are permitted
School vs school contest will follow their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations with a target date of the week of Monday, August 24th (Note: This sate is subject to change and subject to the approval from the Governor’s Office/Ohio Department of Health and with the stipulation that COVID-19 testing will not be required).
OTHER CONTACT SPORTS (SOCCER, FIELD HOCKEY, CROSS COUNTRY):
Practices will begin on Saturday August 1st with the normal acclimatization period in place for cross country.
No school vs. school scrimmages are permitted in soccer or field hockey
School vs school contest will follow their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations with a target date of the week of Friday, August 21st, for soccer and field hockey and Monday, August 24th for cross country. (Note: This sate is subject to change and subject to the approval from the Governor’s Office/Ohio Department of Health and with the stipulation that COVID-19 testing will not be required).
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
If contact sports are not approved for school vs. school competition by Friday, September 4th, fall contact sports and remaining winter and spring sports will move to a condensed schedule that will take place between mid-December and the end of June. Fall non-contact sports would move forward as scheduled.
If the fall seasons begin and , for some reason, are stopped but then resume, the OHSAA has plans to move to a modified fall sports season.
If contact sports are approved for school vs. school competition, the OHSAA is prepared to set COVID-19-related requirements for schools to follow for competitions as requested by the Governor’s Office. The OHSAA will govern and issue consequences for the violation of these requirements as prescribed in OHSAA Bylaw 11, Penalties.
Conversations with the Governor’s Office/Ohio Department of Health continue regarding the status of field hockey and/or cross country being placed into the low/non-contact category. The membership will be updated if that changes for either or both sports.
The OHSAA continues with conversations with the Governor’s Office on its plans to ensure we are in concert.
The Wheelersburg defense celebrates stopping Minford’s two-point conversion to seal an overtime victory in October 2019.
The first of Ohio’s high school non-contact sports competitions begin the first full week of August, but the future for others may be determined late this week.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association reports work continues with Governor Mike DeWine’s office on plans for contact sports. The OHSAA tweeted a status update Tuesday evening, reminding participants associated with fall non-contact sports, golf, tennis and volleyball contests are permitted but was less definitive with the those listed as contact sports.
Today's #OHSAA Update: https://t.co/ysNqaXUQao – Reminder that golf, tennis and volleyball contests are permitted. #OHSAA continues to work with Governor's Office on field hockey, soccer, cross country & football contests. NEW: school vs. school scrimmages are suspended. pic.twitter.com/OsL1cpKGPN
In his Tuesday news conference, Governor Mike DeWine addressed interscholastic sports. “We are living in a period of time where we don’t know what our future is” said DeWine. “Parents are making tough choices, and these choices are only going to get more difficult if we don’t get hold of this virus. Let’s get ahold of this virus.”
It’s believed DeWine may have more to say regarding sports in his news conference Thursday.
The state pulled the plug on OHSAA sanctioned sports in mid-March and cancelled Ohio’s spring sports in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.
Like most other sports, the American Rally Association’s 2020 schedule was rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just national rally event was held six months ago. Each passing week saw another event drop from the schedule, including the Southern Ohio Forest Rally (SOFR).
Event Chairman Jeremiah Johnson told Litter Media the event was moved from its usual May dates to June of 2020, then the pandemic hit and there was uncertainty for the remainder of the ARA national schedule.
Then as the country began to re-open, there was a glimmer of hope for the SOFR, however, due to health restrictions, the event was forced to be held without spectators for the first time.
The event will be run Saturday, July 18th at an undisclosed location. Johnson says fans can follow along on race day digitally through video updates on the SOFR Facebook page and the ARA website.
The annual vintage base ball game between the Adena Worthingtons and the Ohio Village Muffins went to the home team, 11-7 Sunday.
It was the sixth meeting between the clubs playing 1860s era base ball at Adena Mansion & Gardens. The Worthingtons’ victory evened the series at three games each.
The Muffins were founded by the Ohio History Connection in 1981 and regularly play a season schedule of 40-50 games. The 2020 season has been hampered by cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Their match in Chillicothe was their second of the season.
The Worthingtons were founded in 2015 to play the Muffins as part of an old fashioned fourth of July event hosted by Adena Mansion & Gardens.
Ceremonial first pitches were thrown by Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney, the granddaughter of State Representative Gary Scherer and Adena Mansion & Gardens Board Member Bill Beatty.
Major League Baseball released the 60 game schedules for teams for the modified 2020 season.
Ohio’s two clubs will face each other the first week of August, first in Cincinnati August 3rd and 4th then the two travel to Cleveland on August 5th and 6th for their annual four game interleague set.
The Reds open with the Detroit Tigers July 24th at Great American Ball Park for the first of a home stand which includes four games with the Chicago Cubs.
The Indians will open at Progressive Field with the Kansas City Royals July 24th followed by four games with the Chicago White Sox.
The MLB season was put in jeopardy by the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, following weeks of negotiations between ownership and the players union, the two agreed on the shortened schedule.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors President Dan Leffingwell has announced today that Bob Goldring has been named interim executive director, effective immediately. Goldring has served as the OHSAA senior director of operations and is completing his 25th year as a member of the staff.
Goldring is serving as interim executive director in place of Jerry Snodgrass, who assumed leadership duties in July 2018 when Dan Ross resigned after 14 years at the helm. Snodgrass is leaving after 12 total years with the OHSAA following a 31-year career in education as a teacher, coach and administrator.
While leading the administrative functions until a permanent executive director is selected, Goldring will also work closely with state government leaders and school district administrators in developing a plan for return to play in the fall. The OHSAA will conduct a nationwide search beginning immediately to fill the executive director vacancy.
“Through a collaborative effort, we look forward to Bob guiding us and, more importantly, the OHSAA providing guidance to our member schools on the anticipated re-start of interscholastic athletics this fall,” said Leffingwell, superintendent of the Noble Local Schools in Sarahsville. “He brings a solid understanding of the association’s responsibilities to serve member schools and administer sports. Bob is a proven relationship-builder who will reliably serve our member schools until the position is filled permanently.”
During the 2015-16 school year, Goldring was also the OHSAA acting executive director from mid-March to mid-June of 2016 when Ross was on medical leave. A graduate of Orrville High School, he holds two degrees from The Ohio State University. He joined the OHSAA in the fall of 1995 as director of information services, was promoted to assistant commissioner in June 2005 and served in that role until becoming senior director of operations in August 2008.
“I am honored by the confidence the Board has placed in me,” Goldring said. “We have a solid team of knowledgeable and dedicated professionals at the OHSAA who are committed to serving our member schools. My top priorities are to prepare for return to play this fall and successfully lead the team until a permanent executive director is hired.”
In the release, “We applaud the leadership, diligence and partnership it took from Jack Nicklaus, Dan Sullivan, the entire Memorial Tournament staff and State, County and City leadership to build a solid plan that would allow for limited fan attendance at next week’s event,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “But given the broader challenges communities are facing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we need to stay focused on the No. 1 priority for our Return to Golf — the health and safety of all involved. While this was a difficult decision, it was one made collectively, and we are appreciative of the process undertaken to this point that will allow us to welcome on-site fans when the time is right. In the meantime, we have no doubt that the Memorial Tournament will once again be an incredible championship and deliver the best competitive environment for our players and utmost entertainment to our fans around the world.”
In mid-June, Governor Mike DeWine approved a plan for the tournament to allow 20% capacity for spectators to attend The Memorial being played July 14-19, 2020.
Oates encourages interested persons to visit the OHSAA website to create an account to be included in their local chapter. CLICK HERE
For more details, call 740-649-9614.
In 2018, Bob Dehner, who served as an official for more than 30 years in Southern Ohio, wrote about the dwindling number of officials available for competitions in “Unsportsmanlike Conduct”. Bob talks about the need for officials in this interview with Litter Media.
The coronavirus pandemic has limited baseball for spectators across America in 2020. The cancellation of the Prospect League season took away the Chillicothe Paints for the summer and Major League Baseball is still haggling over how to get its season underway.
Fortunately, there’s one game that’s ready to entertain… the annual vintage base ball meeting between The Ohio Village Muffins and the hometown Adena Worthingtons. The Muffins consist of enthusiasts from around Central Ohio through the Ohio History Connection while the Worthingtons are comprised of locals who have enjoyed keeping the game alive.
Litter Media’s Dan Ramey has Captained The Worthingtons since 2015. “Both teams are excited to play. This will be the first outing for The Muffins, and I know they’ll be chomping at the bit to get back on the diamond. They bested us in 2019 and we’re ready to bounce back and put on a good show for everyone.”
The Muffins lead the series 3-2.
The match is scheduled for 2pm July 12th on the grounds of Adena Mansion & Gardens. There’s no admission charge to watch the game. Spectators are welcome to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the event. There’s an explanation of how the game will be played along with player introductions before the contest.
The game is governed by rules from 1860s era base ball. One change will be wearing face coverings while playing, which may prove challenging for the participants in the summer heat.
Adena Mansion & Gardens Executive Director Kathy Styer reminds visitors to practice social distancing and wear a face covering while around other visitors. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, refreshments will NOT be available this year.
There is an admission charge for those wishing to tour the mansion with the last tour of the day conducted at 3:45pm. Visit the website for additional information, www.adenamansion.com.
