As the first step toward a possible go-ahead to conduct a fall sports schedule, the Indiana High School Athletic Association has granted permission for summer workout activities to begin July 1.
Coaches will be able to meet with their athletes and supervise conditioning and other programs and use school facilities.
Previously, there had been a school closure order in place banning activities through June 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick gave permission for school-related summer programs to resume July 1, and the IHSAA followed suit.
“I guess that does give us a hope that we will have a fall season,” said Brownstown Central High School Athletic Director Mark DeHart. “As long as things stay the same.”
This decision was made as Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced phased-in reopenings of businesses and other aspects of daily life for Hoosiers as they continue to take certain precautions to remain safe and healthy.
As the coronavirus spread across the country and the world, one casualty of social isolating and eliminating crowd gatherings was the cancellation of spring season high school sports in Indiana and elsewhere as well as for Seymour and other schools in Jackson County.
Seniors saw their high school sports careers end suddenly and right alongside the postponement of all manner of college and professional sports. There has always been concern the virus would continue to infect the populace at a high rate and the carryover forbidding high school sports participation would carry over into the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.
Seymour’s girls cross country coach Spencer Sunbury said that very issue has been on his mind.
“That’s one thing I’ve been fearful of,” he said.
This announcement will lift the spirits of athletes who don’t know what to expect during this time of crisis.
“It’s encouraging,” Sunbury said. “It’s good for the kids to have that hope.”
Brownstown football coach Reed May said he usually likes to start preseason practice July 6. This approval date may push him to start July 1, but he is not sure because many players may have family vacations scheduled and be away.
May said he is not sure which date he will select.
“I’m in the process of finalizing it,” he said.
It is also not clear what kind of rules might remain in place related to social distancing, wearing face masks or any other precautions once practices begin.
Reed and Sunbury both noted how developments, policies and news linked to the coronavirus has been fast-moving, and between now and July 1, cases can spike or decline.
“It can change again in the next couple of weeks,” May said.
Sunbury knows people will say sports are not that important in the scheme of this international crisis, that they are just games, but through his daughter-athletes’ experiences, he realizes how important competing and belonging to a team can be.
“Yes, it is sports,” Sunbury said. “But it plays a bigger part in their lives.”