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While restaurants have been given the go-ahead to resume indoor dining on February 1st, high school sports were not so lucky. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has delayed winter contact athletics such as basketball and hockey until the 21st of February, throwing their seasons in doubt. By all accounts, the announcement was a surprise when it was made last Friday.
After a weekend of consultation, the Michigan High School Athletic Association has come forward with a statement. Unfortunately, it is short on details. Executive Director Mark Uyl wrote, “We are unable to provide specific plans yet as we are still evaluating the best options for delivering a memorable experience for 60,000 athletes involved in Winter contact sports.”
Hancock School District has also stepped forward to resist the latest directive. Dr. Steve Patchin says the sentiment is shared between administration officials and the school board. “Hancock Public Schools does not support the MDHHS decision to again postpone competition of competitive high school winter sports until February 21. The Hancock Public Schools School Board will be submitting a letter to leaders of the MDHHS, our state government leadership, and state senators and representatives requesting that we regain local control of K-12 athletics and in-person instruction, utilizing the Return to Learn plan developed with the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force, including the plan regarding athletics constructed in collaboration with the MHSAA.”
At the county level, a special session of the Board of Commissioners was held Friday afternoon to discuss the contentious resolution from earlier this month advocating for a return to normal. It passed 5-0, with the athletic decision playing a big role, says Chairman Al Koskela.
The full statement from the MHSAA is below.
“We are unable to provide specific plans yet as we are still evaluating the best options for delivering a memorable experience for 60,000 athletes involved in Winter contact sports. We will continue asking questions and advocating for all of our schools and athletes as we work toward building our next plans for seasons in basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and wrestling. We will be ready with specific timelines as soon as MDHHS clears contact sports to begin full activity.
“We have said from the start of the 2020-21 school year that we would do everything possible to have three seasons, and play all three to completion. Our strong advocacy for all sports and seasons – and especially Winter sports – continues every day.”
