by What about my kid?
Don’t just pass the buck!
Get ready to hear both of those phrases a lot over the next few weeks. Today’s announcement from the OHSAA that Fall Sports should go on as planned has sent the Ohio sports world into chaos. Within minutes, nearly 50 schools, (mostly in Cuyahoga County) have announced either postponement or downright cancellation of all Fall Sports.
There have been a few others, but just like on the daily Covid 19 map people have obsessed about the last 4 months, Cuyahoga County remains in bright red, remains in the spotlight.
But there is just one problem many are forgetting about right now, there are 87 other counties, none of which are in the purple and only 12 in the red.
So, what does that leave you with? I’ll tell you, it leaves you with 75 counties that are going to talk themselves into allowing High School Sports this fall.
If and when, every single school in those 13 other counties cancel Fall Sports for good, you’re going to hear the coaches and the parents says, “What about my kid(s)?
You really think they are going to sit there on a Friday night at home in the fall while a school 25 minutes away is playing? You think I’m crazy? MapQuest North Olmsted High School to Avon Lake High School one day. The virus somehow gets less effective once you hit 90 West and head towards Avon Lake?
It’s chaos folks, and it is only going to get wackier as we go.
The OHSAA today did the smartest thing they could as now they don’t have to be the bad guy. The “bad guy” becomes each school district that pulls out. Thus, upset parents, players and coaches have a person to spot their anger towards. The bad guy becomes the Cuyahoga County Board of Health
Governor Dewine refuses to make a firm ruling and used this entire ordeal to promote his mask wearing policy. Perhaps a way to create false hope for many in the red counties that you may get rewarded if you listen to him.
You should have known, that was a dangling carrot you are never going to get. No one wants to be the bad guy, forcing the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to step in, and the buck to be passed.
What happens next?
I’d expect at least 80% of schools in Cuyahoga to either postpone or cancel all Fall Sports by Monday evening if not sooner. Despite the fact that you saw both North Olmsted and Fairview tonight, slightly go back on their word and now call it a postponement.
What does that even mean? North Olmsted will be back at practice this week under phase one rules, but the kids won’t play this fall?
You cannot expect parents, players and coaches to sit on Friday nights and watch scores come in from all over the state as they just sit at home licking their wounds. If you thought today was nuts, you haven’t seen anything yet.
Either a ruling comes down from Dewine that states all teams can play, or no teams can play. If not, the drama and stress of today is going to seem like a cool summers breeze.
I already know what you’re going to say, the OHSAA did leave it up to each school and say everyone can play. If you’re still asking that question, go back and re-read this entire article. Don’t pass the buck because this is exactly what can happen.
