LOL. I wasn't going for another debate again but whenever you throw covid out there, its only a matter of time. I am to the point though that we need to be told what restrictions we need to plan for. This is getting way too late.Lacking further input, which may or may not be coming, it would probably be expedient (i.e., CYA) to do the "social distancing" thing & wear masks when not training. Given that COVID-19 & its variants are molecules smaller than any of the apertures of any of the masks in production, including the vaunted N-95 variant, there is no such thing as 100% safe. While masks, especially the N-95 variant can and do prevent a large % IF the molecules are present, 100% protection is not nor will ever be possible. Hopefully, our vaunted "leaders" aren't going for that. A reasonable compromise, not that it is really needed given the extremely small % of kids that come down with serious symptoms, would be a mask and some distancing. The whole 6' radius thing is a bunch of crap. Just don't get in each other's faces, especially in closed spaces, and kids & adults have done and will keep doing just fine.
So, masks & some distancing is the wisest and most expedient course of action, IMHO. Don't let Dimwit Dewine murder another year of kids' competition lives!
The OATCC played the wrong hand in XC and gave us restrictions that no other sports had. Cross country was and still is, the only sport that had to change.My understanding is the the OATCCC's recommendations went to the OHSAA last Wednesday.
Totally agree. And its not that Gabor has been unable to do it due to his current situation. Its all spring sports.I am in total agreement with you that the "powers-that-be" are seriously late to the game. You'd think this situation had snuck up on them or something?
Fuster-Cluck...I hope it doesn't come to that and that protocols are presently coming for the kids' sake.
Agree with much of the article except for mainly the patience. The article was written in September when we didn’t know the plan would work for the fall. we now know that both fall and winter sports ran without many concerns. 5 months has pass from that article and we have a lot less question marks.
I agree but you know that the OHSAA will have protocals that we will have to follow. These are all good suggestions and hope it is just this but whatever they tell us, we will have to do. Planning without any guidance from them this late in the game is unacceptable.We have been fortunate to practice and compete this entire indoor season, going back to starting the first week in November. We have just over 50 athletes out for our indoor team (plus another 10 to 20 who just show up for conditioning). Our distance kids always run outside but also lift weights in the weight room. The rest of the team has been indoors the majority of the time between the hallways and using one of the gyms. We follow the protocols which say wear masks when not active but no masks when they are actively practicing. We have been to 3 indoor meets as a team so far (with a few individuals going to a few extra meets) and will be going to 2 more during the regular season plus the Indoor State meet. Besides no or limited spectators and coaches/athletes wearing masks when not competing, the meets don't look much different than normal, and we haven't had any issues with kids or coaches getting covid from the meets, nor have we heard anything negative associated with the meets we've been at (Virginia Beach, Spire, Logan, and Mount Vernon). As others have mentioned on here, HS sports in the fall for the most part went really well and included football, and now we have wrestling going on. At this point there's no reason to think we need to have a lot of changes or restrictions to the outdoor track and field season. Finishtiming posted some good basic suggestions and if you're a coach who hasn't done anything yet this winter, follow the protocols that your school or local health department wants you to follow and start providing opportunities for these kids. You may have to be a little creative in some ways but for the most part you can conduct practice as you've done in the past. Good luck to everyone finishing indoor and getting ready to start outdoor.
Yes, I should have stated in there that our school is having us follow guidelines from the OHSAA as far as practices are concerned. And I agree with you the OHSAA should have put out guidelines for track and the other spring sports by now. Hopefully we will learn more through the rules meeting.I agree but you know that the OHSAA will have protocals that we will have to follow. These are all good suggestions and hope it is just this but whatever they tell us, we will have to do. Planning without any guidance from them this late in the game is unacceptable.
Hopefully at the rules and interpretations meeting today they give us more guidance.
A coach contacted me because he had heard that every pole vaulter must have their own tarp to be placed on top of the landing area when that vaulter made their attempt. I looked it up, and this was one of the recommendations of the USATF.So will they come up with something for track like require relay member to wear gloves?
Jeez. I hope that is not going to happen. 30+ tarps for my school. Is the state going to pay for all this?A coach contacted me because he had heard that every pole vaulter must have their own tarp to be placed on top of the landing area when that vaulter made their attempt. I looked it up, and this was one of the recommendations of the USATF.
We have lost our collective minds.
To be clear: I have no reason to believe this will come to the OHSAA.
worked an indoor meet just a couple of weeks ago.. it was well run and well organized as it is every year.. didn't see a single tarp, on either the pole vault or high jumpGood lord, a tarp? What lame-brained IDIOT suggested that? Haven't they paid ANY attention to the amount of meets going on world-wide...INDOORS! EVERY meet I've seen indoors this year has had NO such thing, NOR is it necessary in any fashioned.
This is an AIR-BORN VIRUS!!!
My blood is boiling having read such idiocy.
worked an indoor meet just a couple of weeks ago.. it was well run and well organized as it is every year.. didn't see a single tarp, on either the pole vault or high jump
I guess I am not sure what you think they are going to tell you about practice that you don't already know. They are allowed to be together in a classroom, able to play basketball together, wrestle each other so they should be able to most everything related to track practice outdoors with no issues. I would say if you practice indoors follow the same rules basketball does. They didn't have much to say about how schools practiced CC so I don't expect much for track.The lack of communication from the OHSAA is getting really unacceptable for all spring sports. We have been putting off meeting with the athletes for weeks now about how the season will look like, waiting on the OHSAA to give us some guidance, and still nothing.
Are they just thinking about winter tournaments? Track is the most participated sport. Can't they multi-task and address both? Can they please put us a little higher up on the priority list? We were the only season that sacrificed an entire season due to the current situation and the athletes want some certainity.
They did have the info for XC and it was outdoors, even for practices in a timely manner.I guess I am not sure what you think they are going to tell you about practice that you don't already know. They are allowed to be together in a classroom, able to play basketball together, wrestle each other so they should be able to most everything related to track practice outdoors with no issues. I would say if you practice indoors follow the same rules basketball does. They didn't have much to say about how schools practiced CC so I don't expect much for track.
I am guessing they will put out some guidance for meets but those are over a month away.
Surely, you're not really this helpless.The lack of communication from the OHSAA is getting really unacceptable for all spring sports. We have been putting off meeting with the athletes for weeks now about how the season will look like, waiting on the OHSAA to give us some guidance, and still nothing.
Are they just thinking about winter tournaments? Track is the most participated sport. Can't they multi-task and address both? Can they please put us a little higher up on the priority list? We were the only season that sacrificed an entire season due to the current situation and the athletes want some certainity.
Right. Like how do we prepare if we don't know all the answers on the test. I sort of assume that there will be a track and there will be field event facilities and the events will be the usual events. I can enter 2 individuals per event and 1 relay. No more than 4 events per kid. Top 4 advance. I can work with that.Reminds me of the people that complain that they don't know on March 27 which district or regional they will be competing in.
My understanding is the the OATCCC's recommendations went to the OHSAA last Wednesday.
I disagree. I think that what they did was supporting coaches by helping put in place general rules (guidelines) that allowed the season to happen and ultimately culminate in the State meet you enjoyed so much.This is not good. OATCCC was a hindrance in XC. I was once a full believer and backer of this trusty friend but I have grown tired of the crap they pull. XC was less than thrilling due to OATCCC and the goonies who tried to make 'guidelines.' What are guidelines?
The only saving grace was the state meet. The state meet was the best experience I've had in quite a while. I heard no complaints from coaches, athletes, fans and the all-important seating for grandma.
Down with OATCCC guidelines. Know your role OATCCC and stick to supporting coaches, having a clinic, an indoor 'state' meet, and a couple of Mideast/Midwest meets for seniors.