Written Monday December 7th at 7:00 PM
Disappointment is an understatement.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended the shutdown that included high school sports for 12 more days on Monday. The shutdown should end December 20th.
Everything right now is still at a standstill.
MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl was very disappointed in Whitmer, MDHHS Director Robert Gordon, and Michigan Chief Medical Executive Joneigh Khaldun.
“We realize the crisis our medical caregivers and first responders are navigating and understand the need to continue the pause. However the MHSAA had provided a detailed plan to both Governor Whitmer and MDHHS that would had completed fall tournaments with no spectators as safely as possible during the month of December along with allowing winter sports practices to resume. While we are disappointed with today’s announcement we will continue to look forward as we remain committed to play three seasons to their conclusion. The MHSAA Representative Council will meet on Wednesday of this week to chart out another plan for finishing Fall and restarting Winter.”
Whitmer said that her first priority would be reopening schools first but it’s what Gordon said that has gotten parents, coaches, students, and sports fans a like mad. “I think when it comes to sports, there is a range of risk levels. At one end you have individual activities that are outdoors and where people are spaced out. At another level, you have contact sports outdoors and at another level, you have indoor contact sports. As you go through the level of risk increases and we have to think carefully about moving through them. I would just leave it where the governor did, that’s our first priority and also lower risk than a lot of those activities is getting the schools open for education.”
Education is a huge priority but sports is very important to a school setting and it’s a motivator for kids to be in school.
A lot of people are furious with Whitmer and Gordon. They took their frustration on Twitter.
“Just want to throw up right now. So sick for all high school athletes” said Ypsilanti Arbor Prep Girls Basketball Coach and Athletic Director Scott Stine.
“You got to be kidding me. High School coaches can do conditioning and skill work safely using multiple rims/gyms in a high school facility and the protocols we used for fall sports. Watch how fast “travel” teams pop up with zero COVID protocols and zero academic standards to play” said Detroit Southeastern Boys Basketball Coach and Athletic Director Anthony Paciero.
Stoney Creek Boys Basketball Coach Steve Norgrove was very upset with Whitmer when it came to the mental health component which all three did not address in the press conference. “Disappointed, Let Down by @GovWhitmer. Would be considerate to address MI students and their mental health. Talk directly and support them. Instead it took 22 minutes before the topic was even addressed. Our most precious resource continues to be ignored, shameful.”
The dangers are still there from an emotional and mental side of things.
“Still no option for High School Coaches to work with their student athletes on an individual basis with all the safety protocols in place. Shortsighted not understanding the ramifications, cost to students/families, loss of connection to high school coaches, driving privatization of sports” said Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit Boys Basketball coach Pat Donnelly.
However Corunna Boys Basketball Coach Rocky Buscemi took a bit of a different approach.
“Coaches control the controllables, you can still work on things. Find ways as a coach to still improve yourself and your team. I don’t agree with the extension, I hate it but I didn’t agree with my daughter getting cancer earlier in the year. We have to move on and teach resilience through our actions. There is no doubt that sports taught me how to deal with what we are going through and I am grateful for that and thankful I had great coaches growing up. We have to figure out what the next thing our team needs is or what they could do. My family follows my lead, like our players will follow our lead. If a player is good enough to play at a prep school unfortunately that may be their best option and we support them. For the other 95 percent of high school athletes we need to be there more than ever. Think outside the box, work on the mental part of the game (playbooks, chalk talks on zoom, film study of pros, leadership, etc.) Do some virtual workouts, yoga, and strength training. Complaining on Twitter does nothing for our kids. Teams that adapt and still find ways to improve will put players and their teams in a position to do better when we hopefully resume play but more importantly we will continue to teach them lessons that will last beyond basketball. I believe the MHSAA is doing all they can and trust that they will carry our message of the need for sports but again whether that message is received by the powers that be is unfortunately out of our control. Press on coaches, our players need us more than ever.”
At the end of the day Whitmer and Gordon opened Pandora’s Box. There is a lot of people that are mad and upset about this. This move will open up AAU opportunities for players to take advantage of thanks to the shutdown.
Even if it’s worth saving lives there is an emotional and mental component to all of this.
Today was not a good day for school sports and general.
No comments:
Post a Comment