Updated Monday June 1st at 6:00 PM
The MHSAA released their guidelines on Friday afternoon. The
league’s guidelines are basically the same as the NFHS’s guidelines how to open
up schools.
The MHSAA has a three step plan to get things back up and
running again with Step One is limiting gatherings to less than 10 people and
outdoor recreation like walking, hiking, and running with social distancing guidelines
followed. Step Two is that competition can return with lower risk sports while
moderate risk sports can start practicing. Step Three means that moderate risk
sports can start competition along with modified higher risk sports can start practicing. Higher risk sports can
resume based on epidemiology data and experiences from other states and
government or health department directives.
“The MHSAA and its Representative Council believe restarting
school sports is essential to the physical and mental well-being of students
and the guidelines outlined for schools today provide the “How” for schools to
return to athletics when they receive the go ahead from state and county health
officials” said Mark Uyl who is the MHSAA Executive Director.
The higher risk sports include football, boys lacrosse, competitive
cheerleading, and wrestling.
The moderate risk sports will also be mentioned on why I question
the guidelines include basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, hockey, girls lacrosse, gymnastics, bowling, tennis, swimming relays, high
jump, long jump, seven on seven
football, and pole vault. Although
some of these sports which I think should be deemed in the low risk as I will
bold them and thus see my reasonings why I question the guidelines.
The low risk sports include shot-put, discus, running, individual
swimming events, powerlifting (weightlifting), skiing, golf, cross country, and
sideline cheer.
The guidelines divided social distancing in three groups
from essential to non-essential like players, coaches, officials, support
staff, and administrators are deemed in tier one, Media is tier two, and fans
along with venders are deemed in tier three.
School district administrators will determine which steps
that their schools are operating based on the number of people allowed to
gather by state medical rules and regulations.
The NFHS also recommended playing games against other
schools that are in close proximity. The OAA has teams as north as Oxford, as
east Stoney Creek, as west of Farmington, and to as south as Ferndale. Although
for the northern OAA schools Davison, Lapeer, Romeo, and Grand Blanc are
possible options. For the eastern OAA schools playing like Utica Eisenhower,
Utica, Chippewa Valley, Macomb Dakota, Sterling Heights Stevenson, Sterling
Heights, and Utica Ford are possible, and for the western OAA schools the Lakes
Valley Conference schools are options, and for the southern OAA schools teams
like Livonia Franklin, Novi, Northville, Livonia Stevenson, and Livonia
Churchill are possible along with teams like Hazel Park, Clawson, Lamphere,
Madison, Warren Fitzgerald, and Center Line are possible options as well. Could
this recommendation force schools to review conference affiliation down the
line??? It’s possible.
The guidelines also mention that there could be periodic
school closures and teams that might have to isolate during the season due to possible outbreaks
in the fall and winter although not proven that there could be a possible
second wave.
It is possible that a vaccine and or treatment for the coronavirus
disease 19 could be available between October and at the end of the year or in
early 2021 based on the reports I’ve been hearing.
“We are thankful for our state government, state education,
health departments, our medical partners and the NFHS for their guidance in the
past few months and we will continue to follow and pass on these recommendations
as we prepare our schools to bring back this part of student life that has been
sorely missed” Uyl concluded.
Why I question the Guidelines???
I question in the guidelines why that basketball, volleyball,
soccer, softball, bowling, tennis, pole vault, high jump, long jump, and baseball
are in the moderate risk category. I think these sports should be low risk
because they don’t have a ton of physical contact. In my research, basketball is not
deemed as a contact sport and there is evidence proving that. Also why are the medical experts saying that passing
a ball can get you coronavirus disease 19??? until I see the evidence I’m not
convinced of that. In volleyball, soccer, softball, tennis, and baseball social
distancing can be achieved because they are spaced apart on the field or on the court. In
volleyball there is a net that blocks both teams and that you can maintain
distance, I’ve seen evidence and along with tennis. I don’t know why pole vault, and high jump are in
the moderate risk, they can be cleaned periodically along with bowling but with
long jump I severely disagree because that is a low risk no question there.
I get all the hygiene stuff but I think the guidelines are too strict and overprotective. I really question some things in
the guidelines although medical experts have said that respiratory droplets are
the main reason for concern but I really question that for several reasons. I have not seen any proof that multiple people touching
a ball can cause coronavirus disease 19. Also there is evidence that sweat does
not cause someone to get coronavirus disease 19. Until someone in the medical
field not my friends or family tells me otherwise and provides me evidence of
this, I remain skeptical.
Stay tuned to OAA Now on this developing story.
LO Cares Podcast from June 18th
https://soundcloud.com/user-539915961/lo-cares-podcast0-6-18-20
MHSAA link
https://www.mhsaa.com/Portals/0/Documents/AD%20Forms/Guidance%205-29-20.pdf
LO Cares Podcast from June 18th
https://soundcloud.com/user-539915961/lo-cares-podcast0-6-18-20
MHSAA link
https://www.mhsaa.com/Portals/0/Documents/AD%20Forms/Guidance%205-29-20.pdf
