Student-athletes for Wheeling Park High are scheduled to begin practice on August 17, but the future of competing against teams from other counties currently scheduled is uncertain in the Mountain State.
Not only has W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice introduced a new color-code system for schools and sports, but there are several more reasons why the assistant superintendent of Ohio County Schools would completely appreciate a plan for all sports to compete during the spring semester instead of in the fall.
“In my opinion, I don’t see how sports can happen right now. But that is only my personal opinion,” Jones said. “With the positive cases that are in a lot of the counties where we play teams, I only see four, maybe three football games for Wheeling Park’s team this season. On the team’s schedule are two games against high schools in Mon County, two teams from Berkeley County, and one against a Wood County team.
“Personally, I would like to see a switch to spring. It is my opinion that we could have two-month seasons with playoffs following, and if we go into June, I see how that could work if the numbers are better than what they are now,” he said. “No matter what the governor orders on Sept. 1, Ohio County Schools will be ready for both in-class and virtual, but I just don’t know about sports.”
One into 10; 10 intro 20
Jones recognizes most parents recently surveyed by the school district wish for in-class instruction, and that most hope for sports to take place, too. The administrator, though, also acknowledged that social distancing is pretty much impossible during a football game or a soccer match.
There is the potential for one positive case could evolve into 10, and so on.
“And no one wants to see sports be the reason why that we close schools,” Jones said. “I know Bernie Dolan (executive director of the WVSSAC) doesn’t want to see that either. I believe we can try to go to school while we wear masks and following all of the other guidelines, and we can continue to move forward.
“But I don’t want to see us have games canceled because a team became infected. That would cause us to close that school,” he said. “It is my opinion that we would be opening the door to that possibility if we have sports right now, and no one wants that to deal with after the last few months.”
‘Still Learning This Thing’
In college football, the Big 10 announced this week that college football would take place in the spring, and soon after the PAC 12 followed suit with a similar report. Division II conferences have postponed fall sports, and local residents are awaiting a decision from officials of the Mountain East Conference.
While virtual-only students will be eligible for extracurricular activities, it remains unknown if even they will see a race, a game, or a match.
“If we have a vaccine, and if the numbers are much better in the spring because people have continued to wear masks and be as careful as possible, then I think spring would be a lot better to try what we try as far as sports are concerned,” Jones said. “That’s because I would rather see us plan for abbreviated seasons for every team in the spring. That way, at least those seniors get their final seasons instead of what happened at the end of last year for spring teams.
“We are all still learning this thing and that’s why I feel the way I do about sports,” he added. “And if we can prevent taking those sports away from the students, staff, and parents, then I believe that would be a great decision. If we have sports, I will doing everything possible to make it successful.”
