In this file photo, Marysville head football coach Brent Johnson speaks with his players during a game. The Monarchs are continuing with their plan despite an order from the Ohio Department of Health Director that allows competition with other teams. Marysville will start inter-squad camp Monday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
The Ohio High School Athletic Association is proceeding with fall sports, hopefully.
In a statement released to member schools from the new Interim Executive Director Bob Goldring Tuesday, the OHSAA stated that all fall athletics “will begin on Aug. 1 and (the OHSAA) will conduct the usual series of tournaments in 10 sports.”
But the encouraging statement was followed with words of caution that changes can occur quickly during the pandemic causing plans to be modified or canceled, according to the statement released by the high school sports governing body.
Some of those changes came during Governor Mike DeWine’s COVID-19 press conference Tuesday. During the briefing, Lt. Governor John Husted announced the Ohio Department of Health would open up restrictions in contact sports.
The health director’s order would allow competitive games and tournaments to be played against “other teams or clubs” as long as all teams involved agree to comply with the requirements in the director’s orders until July 15.
Husted emphasized during the press conference that the order is “extended for a short, trial basis.”
For one local football team the option to play in competitive competition against other schools doesn’t change how they are conducting practice. Marysville head football coach Brent Johnson said the change hasn’t really affected anything for his squad.
“Our first seven on seven wasn’t even planned until July 16,” Johnson said. “We were supposed to have camp this week at Ohio Northern. We canceled that and bought ourselves a week to get us to phase three. So we are starting inter-squad camp Monday.”
In phase three athletes can gather in groups up to 50 indoors or outdoors. Athletic gear, to include helmets, should be worn by only one individual. Other equipment, to include balls, should be cleaned intermittently during practice and between sessions to name a few of the guidelines in the OHSAA summer 2020 recommendation statement.
Some of the struggles of the temporary order by the health director is all athletes that want to participate in competition during the seven-day trial period must have a negative COVID-19 test. That test must be done within the previous 72 hours prior to the competition and the results must be handed in before the start of competition, according to the order.
Johnson said his staff has been “non-reactive” to the order.
“I haven’t talked to anyone about it and I don’t even know how it physically can be done,” he said.
Johnson said that there have been challenges during this year’s pre-season, but the Monarchs are looking at the “silver lining.”
“Small groups have helped us build relationships, given more one-on-one instruction and that has gotten us further along,” he added. “I feel good where we are at. We are strong and well conditioned, so there is no anxiety going into camp.”
But with the ever-changing situation Johnson said things are getting to the point where some more long term decisions are going to have to be made.
“It is getting to the point where this will effect practices and as a coach you want to be able to have some control,” Johnson added.