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Contact practice and training may resume for all sports across Ohio today, with guidelines handed down by the State last Thursday.
At this time, only intra-club/team scrimmages are permitted for contact sports and practices as well as open gyms are to be limited in the same way wherever possible. Competitive games and tournaments are permitted for non-contact sports only.
READ THE MANDATORY/RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES HERE
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When Litter Media spoke with Jeremiah Johnson, Chairman of the Southern Ohio Forest Rally few weeks ago, the outlook for the 2020 event looked bleak due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A prospective date of July 18-19 was placed on the books.
SEE THE LITTER MEDIA FEATURE WITH JEREMIAH JOHNSON
But late Friday afternoon, it appears there’s new hope. The Southern Ohio Forest Rally posted on its Facebook Page Friday “The authorities have requested some revisions to our permits and plans but as of this Friday evening it seems that we will be able to host an event July 18.”
For the first time, there’ll be no spectators permitted to see the action and the annual Parc Expose and no official after party in order to stay within the guidelines for social distancing.
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It’s a series of tough phone calls to make… notifying an expanded roster of 30 players, host families, support staff and sponsors. A product of the state the coronavirus pandemic has created.
In a news release Friday morning, the Prospect League announced the heartbreaking determination to cancel the 2020 season. The decision was based on the varying COVID-19 pandemic guidelines for safety, protection and limits on public gatherings and travel across the five states that are home to Prospect League teams.
The cancellation did not come without tireless effort to try to find a way to play. “We sure did our due diligence,” Chillicothe Paints Managing Partner Bryan Wickline said. “We’ve spent weeks and weeks of exploring options and gathering other teams’ information on their local and state guidelines. There were so many factors out of our control as far as other teams in the league were concerned.”
“The whole situation is just sad,” Wickline added. “There are still so many unknowns as it relates to the slow opening of the other states in our league. We had two teams lose the ability to play in their facilities a week or so ago. It came to a point where we were just running out of time and still had a lot of unanswered questions.”
In addition to Ohio’s reopening guidelines, the Paints and the Prospect League are also at the mercy of four other states’ guidelines (West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri), which all currently differ from one another. “It comes down to the Paints have to have teams to play,” said Wickline. “We have two teams in Ohio in the Prospect League (out of 12). Ohio has been one of the quickest states to open up, especially for baseball and softball games. And, for that, we’re very thankful.”
Although the Paints won’t be playing baseball for the first time since their first season in 1993, the organization will be hosting baseball and softball games and other events throughout the summer and fall. In fact, the Paints and VA Memorial Stadium will be hosting high school and youth travel baseball teams beginning June 2. American Legion teams and softball games will also be played, with some extra safety measures. Anyone attending these events at VA Memorial Stadium must adhere to new rules and regulations based on local, state and federal guidelines, which be found on the Paints’ website, chillicothepaints.com, and on signs at the stadium entrance.
“Let’s just say there will be plenty of masks and hand sanitizer to go around,” Wickline explained. “We will follow the mandates and guidelines given to us for the facility to open safely. If you feel sick or if you’re uncomfortable being outside in an open setting around others, we kindly ask that you stay home.”
Masks will be required for everyone if the six-foot social distancing guideline cannot be maintained. “It’s a VA Hospital grounds mandate,” Wickline said. “However, the stadium can hold over 3,000 people, so keeping your distance from others should not be an issue, as these types of events typically draw less than 100 fans.”
The Chillicothe Paints do plan to defend their Prospect League championship and continue their tradition of providing affordable family entertainment to the area next summer. “It’s important to put the Paints in a position to return for the 2021 season,” Wickline added. “That’s our main focus now.”
We would like to thank our loyal fans, sponsors, booster club and host families for their continued support and look forward to playing again in 2021. “That’s the best we can hope for right now,” Wickline added.
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After rains forced Atomic Speedway’s opening night to be pushed back four nights, the weather was perfect Tuesday.
The roar of engines filled the Huntington Hills as dust rose into the night sky as Cole Duncan took the checkered flag in the 410 Sprint Car Invitational.
The only thing missing was the fans in the stands due to the coronavirus pandemic. That will be the same for Atomic’s next race featuring Late Models Friday May 29th.
Tuesday’s race was televised in a pay-per-view format by Speed Shift TV. Friday’s race will be another PPV event and will be carried by www.dirtondirt.com.
Our Litter Media Cameras were there to capture highlights.
See Atomic Speedway’s schedule HERE.
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During the first round of the playoffs, the top four seeds will have a bye, while the No. 12 seed will play at the No. 5 seed, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8. In the second round, the No. 1 seed will play the winner of the 8 vs. 9 game; the No. 2 seed will play the winner of 6 vs. 11; the No. 3 seed will play the winner of 7 vs. 10 and the No. 4 seed will play the winner of 5 vs. 12.
The expansion will increase the number of football playoff qualifiers from 224 to 336. Last year there were 709 schools in Ohio that played 11-man football. Football is the only OHSAA team sport in which not every school qualifies for the postseason.
“We still have details to work out regarding the format and specific season dates, but this vote by the Board gives us the green light to finalize those details for 2021,” said Beau Rugg, Senior Director of Officiating and Sport Management for the OHSAA and the Association’s football administrator. “We are thankful for the Board’s support on this proposal, which will bring all the great things of playoff football to 112 additional schools and communities.”
Rugg also noted that the football finals in 2021 are expected to end during the same weekend as previously scheduled (Dec. 2-5). Schools will still be permitted to play 10 regular-season contests.
The higher seeded teams will have the opportunity to host their playoff games during the first and second rounds of the playoffs.
The OHSAA football playoffs began in 1972 when only 12 schools qualified for the playoffs (four schools in each of three classes). Expansion first came in 1980 when the OHSAA changed to five divisions with eight teams each (40 total qualifiers). A sixth division was added in 1994 (96 total qualifiers) and the number of qualifiers was increased to eight schools per region in 1999 (192 total qualifiers). A seventh division was added in 2013 to bring the number of qualifiers to 224.
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Photo by Diana Orey on Unsplash
UPDATE: Heavy rains have forced the opening to Tuesday May 26th.
(Story originally posted Saturday May 16th)
While NASCAR resumes its season this weekend, race teams will be kicking up dust locally at Atomic Speedway Thursday May 21st. Brad McCown made the announcement during a Facebook Live broadcast Friday afternoon, saying “It’s time to go racin’.”
As with the stock car race at Darlington Sunday, dirt track excitement at Atomic will be without spectators. In addition, race teams will face social distancing restrictions in the pit area.
It will be the Scioto Valley Region’s first sports event since the state put a halt to such events due to the coronavirus pandemic in March.
“They gave us the go ahead to go without fans for now” McCown said of the approval by the Ross County Health District. “It’ll be drivers, plus four crew members. Everybody in the pits will pit 10 foot apart.”
Fans will be able to watch the action of The 410 Sprint Invitational via pay per view being telecast by Speed Shift TV. Then Friday May 29th, Late Models will line up at Atomic.
McCown also stated the dirt track has a new ownership partner, Chad Walters, in a deal completed Friday.
Rain date for the event is Monday May 25th.
The organizers of the Southern Ohio Forest Rally (SOFR) and American Rally Association (ARA) have been forced to postpone the event, with the hope to still have the event on the 2020 schedule.
After a couple of years as a May event, SOFR was scheduled for June 19-20 this summer. The pandemic however, forced the group to set the event back.
In a news release late Tuesday, SOFR said “the recent decision made by the state of Ohio to extend its ‘Stay Safe Ohio Order’ order until May 29, 2020, coupled with the postponement of the necessary permitting from the state’s Division of Forestry” was the reasoning for the postponement.
“We are disappointed that we will not be able to make our much-anticipated return to the national schedule in June,” said Event Chairman Jeremiah Johnson in the release. “We are looking at additional dates, and working with the ARA and other national events to find a plausible solution to host SOFR this summer.”
The SOFR was the next event on the ARA’s 2020 National Rally Championship schedule. The last event was held in January, the Sno Drift in Michigan. Since then, the championship events in Missouri, Oregon and Washington State have been wiped from the schedule due to the pandemic.
The ARA, and its parent company USAC, are working with all of the organizers on the 2020 schedule on how to best handle each event and those needs specific to each region and event. USAC, a member of ACCUS, has been at the forefront of finding solutions to get motorsports events back up and running as soon as possible.
“We believe that there are some immediate opportunities for us to get rally back quickly,” said USAC President Kevin Miller. “We have developed several new procedures to help events not only manage their event on-site, but also show local and state authorities how we can mitigate the spread of the virus. There have been many positive changes to how states are handling this pandemic, and we are working hard to find the right solution.”
For now, the next opportunity for race teams will head to Maine and New Hampshire for the New England Forest Rally July 31st-August 1st.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Prospect League announced Wednesday a change in the 2020 schedule resulting in Opening Day moving from May 28 to July 1.
“The Paints are cautiously optimistic but very hopeful that we will play a revised Prospect League schedule at VA Memorial Stadium this summer,” said Paints managing partner Bryan Wickline. “As a league, we targeted July 1 as Opening Day for the 2020 Season. With teams in five states and varied restrictions and extended stay-at-home orders, we look forward to the day we hear, “Play Ball!”
The Paints will be taking extra precautions to keep fans, players and staff safe.
“We will certainly abide by our local, state, federal government and health organizations guidelines once we are permitted to host games,” Wickline added. “We will open VA Memorial Stadium as long as the safety and health of our fans, players, staff and umpires is met by the group-gathering guidelines and mandates.”
Wickline continued, “As a country, this has been a challenge like no other! We look forward to the day when Paints games and VA Memorial stadium can be an outlet to safely gather and celebrate, entertain and cheer – for each other and for America’s favorite pastime – like never before.”
“Numerous American Legion and travel baseball organizations plan to host their games and tournaments this summer at VA Memorial Stadium as soon as they are permitted given Ohio’s gradual reopening. We will host these events as we are able to follow the recommended guidelines when they are played,” said Wickline.
The Paints downtown Gift Shop and Administrative office will reopen to regular business hours beginning Monday, May 18.
Fortress Obetz opened in 2017 on the former site of the Columbus Motor Speedway. The racing that will now take place there in early November represents one of the largest high school cross country events in the country, with more than 11,000 fans.
Of significance, much of the course will be visible from the 6,500-seat grandstands, which will lead to a greater experience for fans and participants.
“We can’t wait for our student-athletes and Ohio’s entire cross country community to experience the state championships at Fortress Obetz,” said Snodgrass. “This facility is so impressive, from the course layout for the competitors to being more spectator friendly for the fans and we are thrilled to sign a five-year agreement. We would like to thank National Trail Raceway for hosting the state championships for the last nine years and doing an outstanding job as our host.”
Fortress Obetz was built to host sporting events, concerts, festivals and more. It was the home of the Ohio Machine professional lacrosse team from 2017-19. The facility has five video boards, concessions, restrooms and a huge parking lot.
“The Village of Obetz is extremely proud and excited to partner with the OHSAA,” said Steve Adams, National Director of Athletic Operations and Facilities Promotion. “We feel our Memorial Park and the Fortress is perfectly suited for the OHSAA Cross Country State Tournament. We have created a safe and challenging course for the runners and kept the spectator experience in mind as well.”
The grandstand includes 1,100 flip-down seats, 2,000 bench-back seats and 3,400 bleacher seats.
Scioto Downs, located just south of Columbus, hosted the OHSAA cross country state championships from 1985 through 2010 before the facility added a casino. National Trail Raceway in Hebron, 20 miles east of Columbus, hosted the state championships from 2011 through 2019.
OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass sent the memo to school administrators following Governor DeWine’s press conference. For weeks, the OHSAA has communicated with schools that spring sports would be canceled if school facilities were closed. In addition to facilities not being opened, it would be impossible to ensure the health and safety of all individuals and support personnel involved in practices and contests at all member schools.
“As we have stated in our previous communications, today’s announcement by Governor DeWine to close schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year also will now result in the cancellation of OHSAA-sponsored spring sports seasons including tournaments,” Snodgrass wrote Monday.
The OHSAA’s mandatory no-contact period for all interscholastic sports remained in effect until at least May 3, which could be extended. Coaches and school administrators are encouraged to have non-mandatory electronic and online communications with their student-athletes. The closure of school facilities includes all athletic facilities for any interscholastic training, practice or competition.
In an interview Monday afternoon, Snodgrass reflected on the unprecedented times that the pandemic has brought to the nation and the impact it has had on schools and interscholastic athletics.
“I’ve heard from so many people who have said ‘You really need to understand what this means to our kids,’” Snodgrass said during the interview. “I’m a parent. I was a coach. I grew up every day as a player and a coach wanting to play high school sports and get to the state tournament. So I do think I understand that. I also have to go with the fact that my number one concern that I have, over everything, is the health and safety of everyone involved. It’s not just our student-athletes. It’s the parents, coaches, umpires, officials, the scorekeepers. All those things enter into this. It’s a tough decision and it’s one that I and all the other Executive Directors of the other states never thought we would have to do. Never did I think this would be the case, but I’ve tried to be as prepared as I could every step of the way.”
Snodgrass also addressed the summer and start of fall sports in the interview.
“July is a very physical month for our student-athletes entering fall sports, so we have already started looking at, if this continues through the summer, we’ll have the potential of having a lot of kids who haven’t had the physical activity that they would normally have going into a fall season. So for the health and safety of everyone, we have to look at the acclimation periods going into the fall, if that happens. We have to be prepared for that. We’re also talking about that, if this does go through the summer, what is the likelihood that a student can get in to get a physical (annual medical exam). We have a sport medicine advisory group that is looking at that. They are looking at all aspects such as whether artificial surfaces need to be treated. We are relying on the advice of experts in our decision making.
The OHSAA will continue to communicate throughout the spring and summer regarding any adjustments to OHSAA off-season regulations, academic eligibility standards, sports medicine updates and more.
