Unbelievable! In Ohio County, hundreds of kids gather at the Wheeling Park Skating Rink. Hundreds more gather at the Highlands Sports Complex. The YMCA and Howard Long Wellness Center are packed with kids. Our “utes” go to gyms and work with their private coaches and personal trainers. Youth leagues are permitted to practice and compete. The Wheeling Nailers are permitted to compete, as are the collegiate athletes of West Liberty University and Wheeling University.
`I am sure the situation is similar at each of the fifty-five counties in our state. Oh … and people can gather and at a resort owned by our governor … social distancing and masks optional … and the governor downplays this.
What is the message being sent here? It seems to be “do as I say not as I do.” Yet, our high school and middle school gyms sit empty, and our student athletes must sit on the sidelines and wait. They will be in the classrooms beginning January 19 (unless the county is “red” at which time everything is shut down and instruction goes full remote), by decree of the governor, but they cannot begin participation in their “winter” sports until March 1.
Extracurricular activities such as athletics, music, theater, speech, and debate are an integral part of the high school/middle school experience. I cannot fathom the reason kids are ok in the classroom, but unsafe on the court, pool, or mat, etc. They cannot even condition to prepare for the coming season. It makes no sense.
Preseason Importance
Preseason conditioning is a vital component of any sport, not only for the success of the team, but for the success and well-being of the individual, as well. Preseason conditioning and strength training help the athlete build strength, balance, and agility. Preseason conditioning also improves an athlete’s endurance and helps delay the time to exhaustion. If an athlete works to improve in these areas, then that athlete’s chance of injury is greatly reduced. Without conditioning, and only two weeks of practice before competition, more injuries are going to occur. Preseason conditioning is a MUST!
In addition, extracurricular participation can help improve grades. Should they have the desire, students and student-athletes learn to budget their time to maintain or improve their grades. Extracurricular activities can also enhance a student’s social network and often result in lifelong friendships. Most importantly extracurricular activities can teach life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and setting goals that are so necessary for success in any field of endeavor.
If the winter sports cannot begin until March 1, there will be a great overlap with spring sports. Even if current rules are waived for this year to allow student-athletes to compete in winter and spring sports at the same time, conflicts are likely to occur. The greater the overlap will make it extremely difficult on student-athletes who compete in winter AND spring sports. In this case one team or both will suffer.
Overlap Issues
This could prove devastating to the smaller schools in the state. If there is a great overlap, several other problems are likely to develop. Some of these schools may be unable to field their best teams or they may not even be able to field a team at all. I understand that one local school fielded a baseball team with eleven or twelve players last season (which, obviously was not played). Many of these student-athletes also participated in a winter sport.
With a great overlap, should it occur this year, these teams would be devastated. In addition, the need to transport teams from winter and spring sports at the same time would become problematic. In many instances, especially with smaller schools, there will most likely not be enough buses and drivers available.
The “spring” athletes of our state lost their ENTIRE season last school year. This cannot happen again! These kids will not gain the exposure they need if they desire to compete at the collegiate level.
In addition, some of our student-athletes compete on AAU teams, which generally begin competition in April. These kids will be forced to choose between school teams and AAU. This is completely unfair to them. It is clear; Governor Justice has failed the student-athletes of not only Ohio County, but the student-athletes of our entire state as well.
Governor Justice, please LET THEM PLAY!
