Updated: 5:06 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020
The Parma City School District (PCSD) is leading an effort to delay contact sports until spring due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that high school sports , but the Ohio High School Athletic Association will allow districts to opt into a delayed season.
鈥淲e know some schools are still deciding, some schools have already made up their mind, they鈥檝e already announced,鈥� DeWine said. 鈥淥ur goal is to focus on the student and focus on the school, and provide them the best opportunity we can so the student can participate.鈥�
For districts that do begin their seasons in the fall, DeWine said spectators will not be permitted at events.
Twenty-three school districts, mostly in Cuyahoga County, signed a petition supporting the delay that was sent to OHSAA this week. A delay would give all students equal opportunity to play safely, PCSD Superintendent Charles Smialek said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e up against the reality that it鈥檚 going to be very difficult to have any season for our contact sports this fall, so we believe it behooves us to explore this move to the spring,鈥� Smialek said. 鈥淭he goal is to be able to have the same level of opportunity as we would normally offer, albeit in a safer way and at a non-traditional time.鈥�
The delay would present some drawbacks, including potential overlap with winter and spring sports, he said, but opening contact sports back up now presents a greater risk.
鈥淎s schools get into putting the pads on, letting the kids get back in, I think you鈥檙e going to see some more shutdowns and more appetites to move into the spring,鈥� Smialek said. 鈥淭hat puts them in a position where there鈥檚 exhaustion and fatigue, but at least there would be that option. We think this fall it鈥檚 very likely that there would be no options.鈥�
The petition calls for maintaining eligibility for students to participate in interschool sporting events even if they opt to wait until spring, Smialek said.
鈥淲e know there isn鈥檛 going to be a state tournament for schools that move to the spring,鈥� he said. 鈥淎ll we鈥檙e really asking for is the concerns that our athletes will not be ruled ineligible if they decide to participate in the spring.鈥�
Parma student-athletes are currently practicing, , but are not participating in any league games, Smialek said. Practices are also limited in scope to comply with the district鈥檚 social distancing guidelines, he said.
鈥淸Coaches] are working at skills and conditioning to make sure our students stay in shape and have these outlets for exercise and socialization,鈥� Smialek said.
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