This is a file photo from the 2019 Marysville basketball “Pit” camp that was held in June. This year’s camp may be conducted in July, if all coronavirus precautions work. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
The first week of June has long been set aside as the date for Marysville High School’s annual “Basketball in the Pit” camp.
That didn’t happen this year.
It could, however, occur next month if all goes well.
“We’re not in any type of status right now,” said Monarch boys varsity hoop coach Ryan Grose. “We had not sent out information for registrations before everything was shut down by the (coronavirus) pandemic.
“We hope that after we get the high school kids going this month, we can hold our youth camp sometime in July,” said Grose.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) is following the guidelines established by the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) as far as re-opening athletic facilities and activities.
“The first phase started for us on Monday and will run for a couple of weeks, if everything goes well,” said Grose. “That phase says you are limited to 10 kids in any one place at one time.”
That restriction does not jell along the lines of the Pit camp, which has attracted more than 100 youngsters on average over the years.
The second phase of the re-opening plan could begin in mid-June with a limit of 50 youngsters spread over different locations.
“If we get to the 50 number, we could get creative by spreading players into our weight room, our field house and main gymnasium,” said Grose. “We could also put in a makeshift weight room in the stem school for high school kids.”
The Monarch coach said social distancing would still have to be observed.
Grose helped open the high school gym and weight room to 10 players in each spot at one time this week.
“We’ll see how the next two weeks go,” he said earlier this week. “If everything goes well, we will be able to expand our numbers.”
The OHSAA has lifted the restriction of 10 days for off-season coaching for each sport this summer.
The month of August has also previously been a no-contact period for winter and spring sports.
That restriction has also been slashed by the OHSAA.
“We moved forward this week with some open workouts for high school players and are seeing how it goes.”
There will still be limits as to contact among players.
That’s why the Monarch high school team will not compete in any summer leagues or shootouts.
“You can’t safely control the environment if you play in a 30-team shootout,” said Grose. “You can better keep an eye on things when you stay at your own school.”
Grose said district officials will do all they can to maintain a safe place in which athletes can work on their craft.
Youngsters, however, will also have to help.
“We don’t have a scripted playbook (on COVID-19), said Grose. “It’s also going to come down to personal responsibility.
“Each player is going to have to use their own towel and water bottle and they won’t be able to share a basketball.
“Everyone is going to have to be smart with this.”