The Maine Principals’ Association has pushed back the start of the winter high school sports season.
Practices were originally scheduled to begin on Nov. 16. A new starting date has not been determined
A memo from MPA interscholastic executive director Mike Burnham, assistant executive director Mike Bisson and Gerry Durgin of the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association said they are again weighing how to fit sports with the state’s COVID-19 guidance.
“While we totally understand that people would like an answer today [on the new starting date], this is a process that involves multiple state agencies, all looking through a different lens, trying to come to some form of agreement about what can and can’t take place and when it may be safe to do so,” the MPA said.
The memo pointed out several concerns such as the wearing of face coverings, which is required in classrooms but not during athletics practices and games.
“That sets a double standard for schools and remains a legitimate concern from other groups,” the MPA said.
It also noted that several school gyms are being used daily for other purposes, including as classrooms, which would create logistical issues for schools.
The fact some community programs, such as youth basketball and hockey, have sponsored practices and games — including some out of state — while some school-based sports aren’t allowed to compete, has left the MPA in a difficult position.
“It is an issue that is currently being addressed by the state agencies. Our office continues to emphasize that we feel schools can do a much better job of safely providing these activities,” the MPA said.
The state agencies, including the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the MPA Sports Advisory Committee, continue to work on developing specific recommendations to allow for a safe return to winter activities.
“We are looking at what the expert guidance says, what other states are doing [and] what leagues are doing as well as conferring with the Maine Principals’ Association, superintendents as well as school boards because a lot of the work that has to happen is in those school spaces,” Department of Health and Human Services commissioner Jeanne Lambrew said during Tuesday’s Maine CDC press conference.”
“We are hoping that we can begin to give information to people who are planning for winter sports in the near term but we want to do so carefully and together so when we go out with this guidance, which will more closely align community sports with school sports guidance, there’s less daylight between the two of them.”
Football and girls volleyball, fall sports that were consider to have a higher risk to participants, were pushed to the spring. Soccer, field hockey, cross country and golf have been played under strict guidelines.
“I hope all the sides can get together and figure something out so these kids can have a winter season,” Southern Aroostook High School basketball coach and athletic director Cliff Urquhart said. “I hope all sides take into consideration that they played AAU basketball all summer without any outbreaks.”
He cited a study by the University of Wisconsin that found participating in high school sports was not associated with an increased risk of COVID-19.
Urquhart noted that athletes who lose a season are more prone to depression and obesity. He said fall sports programs in Maine have thus far been held without a coronavirus outbreak.
But Presque Isle High School hockey coach Dr. Carl Flynn, a family practice physician, has dealt with COVID-19 patients. He estimates that he has administered more than 1,200 tests in his Caribou office.
“To find a way to do this safely will be very difficult,” Flynn said. “I have been pessimistic all along because winter brings with it an increase in respiratory illnesses.”
He concedes the possibility of mental health issues for students, but isn’t sure its worth taking a chance.
“It’s a risky road to go down. Ninety-eight percent of kids won’t get COVID but what if your kid gets COVID and has some underlying issues and dies from it? Who is going to be on the hook for it? The school and the MPA,” Flynn said.
Bangor High girls basketball coach Jay Kemble said he hopes there is a season but stressed that the safety of the student-athletes, coaches and the community is the top priority.
“You have to make sure you do everything you can to provide a safe environment for the kids just like on the academic side of things,” Kemble said.
“As a coach and as a former player, you want to compete and be able to do things. That’s human nature. I love coaching, I love being around the kids in that atmosphere. I hope we have a season. But if we don’t, we don’t.”