Area boys and girls high school soccer coaches are approaching the uncertainty of the upcoming season with a mix of optimism, understanding, and a willingness to be flexible.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association's latest return to play guidelines were released last week with a goal of all fall sports beginning on Aug. 1 as previously scheduled.
OHSAA officials said that the science about the coronavirus is evolving and that it will be important to remain vigilant to respond to developments. They also added that each individual must evaluate the risk versus the benefits of participating in sports this fall.
“The risk of coronavirus transmission will still be present to some degree as interscholastic athletics and will continue until there is a widely available vaccine or therapeutic care,” officials stated in the document. “Students and their families, along with school personnel, must recognize these risks and implement best practices to reasonably mitigate these risks.”
All requirements are contingent upon rules established by Gov. Mike DeWine and/or the Ohio Department of Health.
The OHSAA’s non-contact fall sports are boys and girls golf, girls tennis, and girls volleyball, while the contact sports are football, boys and girls soccer, and field hockey.
The guidelines suggest that schools should attempt to mitigate exposures by maintaining physical distancing while not on the field or court of play; requiring face coverings while not on the field or court of play; reducing unnecessary travel; reducing sharing of common equipment.
Also, each sport has its own specific set of recommendations. The guidelines for soccer include pregame contact restrictions, social distancing among players on the benches and during substitutions, and a suspension of post-game handshakes.
“We’re just excited to play, and the girls are happy to be on the field,” Eastwood girls soccer coach Megan Rutherford said. “I hope they give us a chance to show we are capable of following these recommendations and they allow us to compete in a safe environment.”
Anthony Wayne girls soccer coach Lori Williams said she has been inspired by her team during these unprecedented times.
“Watching the team be able to be back doing what they love tells you everything about how hard this has been on them,” Williams said. “Sports having been taken away has given the athletes more pep in their step, more intensity in their training, and more laughter with their teammates. They are competitors but also understand we must do what is in their best interest long term to keep them safe.”
Local boys and girls soccer coaches offered their opinions on the latest return to play stipulations.
What do you think of the OHSAA's return to play guidelines in general?
■ Bowsher boys coach Naeem Boraby: “I think the OHSAA is taking a careful stand to ensure safety. However, I think there is a contradiction through all sports, not just OHSAA. Players having to wear masks on the bench yet take them off when they're on the field. How is that helpful? Being on the field there is always an exchange of bodily fluids. That's just part of sports and inevitable.”
■ Toledo Christian boys coach John Orozco: “We have been focused on these from June 1. The one challenge has been having things out of our control as coaches. We need to educate ourselves and learn to live with the recommendations. Most adjustments have been good for the game.”
■ Archbold boys coach Stewart Rodger: “The OHSAA has done a good job communicating all updates and the return to play guidelines are clear and well thought out.”
■ Notre Dame girls coach Chip Smith: “Many of the protocols seem designed to eliminate unnecessary interaction and contact. Of course, there are still ever-changing situations that will pop up, but overall it’s a good start.”
■ Rutherford: “I wasn’t surprised by anything in the document. The guidelines are just a continuation of what we are already doing here at Eastwood. The only thing that stuck out to me was that 'a routine testing program might be considered' if testing becomes widely available. I would have a lot of questions as to how that would work with sports like soccer that have multiple games per week.”
■ Williams: “The guidelines are fair and extremely manageable if it allows us to safely have a season. We are going through something that has never been seen in our world. Having our subs wear masks and stand six-feet away are easy concessions if they feel this will permit a season.”
Do you think the concerns over the coronavirus might affect the style of play in any way?
■ St. John's coach Greg McElroy: “I have seen no evidence that this will affect the style of play. During training, the players are going as hard as normal.”
■ Boraby: “I don't. I think once your competitive nature takes over and the adrenaline is there then it's all about the game you love.”
■ Orozco: “The style of play should not be impacted, but how we manage the game will change. I do wonder if there will be a greater focus on personal contact between opposing players. We have been asked to socially distance 11 to 15 players that will be on our benches. I am uncertain how we will manage that process.”
■ Rodger: “The coronavirus will definitely not have any impact on our style of play.”
■ Williams: “Our style of play will remain the same. What our bench looks like and how we sub will be modified only slightly so we can be in compliance with the guidelines, but the product on the field will remain steadfast.”
■ Rutherford: “Not at all. These kids are competitive, and once they get on the soccer field everything else seems to melt away. They still challenge for the ball, they still go hard on tackles.”
What do you think about a modified schedule and/or the proposal to move soccer to the spring?
■ McElroy: “I would hope we could play as close to a normal schedule as possible. Our league is so spread out it would not make sense to play Lima [90 miles away] but not Perrysburg, Southview, Northview [less than 10 miles]. Soccer getting moved to the spring is a non-starter with the club scene as it is.”
■ Boraby: “I don't understand the reason since at some point you will be in heavy contact with other players whether it be league play or not. If [moving to spring] would mean a full schedule and fan interaction then I'm all for it. As long as the other spring sports are not affected.”
■ Orozco: “We need to focus on the necessity to travel outside our area. We may choose to eliminate multi-team scrimmages, long-distance travel, or out-of-state travel. I believe that we are well past the possibility of moving soccer to the spring. I pray that we don't have to experience another spring without track, baseball, softball, and tennis. Our students deserve to play the sports they have grown up enjoying.”
■ Rodger: “If circumstances force us into a limited or league only schedule then we will approach that with positivity and enthusiasm. I am not in favor of moving soccer to the spring — for fairness to all student-athletes. If a spring sport were to move to this fall then the fall gets canceled they would have lost two seasons.”
■ Williams: “I would fully support if they limited us to a league only or mile-limit schedule to minimize travel. Like so much of the planning for COVID, I think the logistics [of moving to spring] would be very difficult.”
■ Smith: “If playing a limited schedule allows our seniors and players to have a season, I’m all for it. We have so many quality teams in the area to provide a competitive schedule. If [moving to spring] is the only way to have a soccer season I’m all for it. But I feel for the spring sports and then the multi-sport athletes who maybe have to choose between sports.”
■ Rutherford: “I hope that won’t be the case. Our non-league schedule is important to us. We will play whoever they let us play though. [Moving to spring] is not a good idea. A lot of high school athletes play multiple sports.”
How optimistic are you that the season will begin on time and/or be completed in its entirety?
■ McElroy: “My overall sense is that we will have one. It will be spotty at best and that the postseason is a long shot and unlikely. We need to be happy with every day and game we get.”
■ Boraby: “I'm a true optimist. So I have to believe we are full go until I hear otherwise and that's how we train. With that, I understand that if there is another outbreak then suspending or canceling would be protocol.”
■ Orozco: “I continue to live with the greatest of optimism. I have been blessed with a team that has buoyed me in my moments of uncertainty. The young men have shown commitment for eight weeks, unlike anything I have seen in my nearly 20 years of coaching high school. They have shown me the resilience, the fortitude, and an unbelievable desire to move forward with a season.”
■ Rodger: “I am optimistic that the season will start on time. As for if it will get completed, every coach will tell you to take it game by game.”
■ Williams: “I'm an optimistic person in general. I don't get caught up in the 'what if' game. We are preparing to try out on Aug. 1 and to host Ashland on Aug. 22 for our first game.”
■ Smith: “I do think a plan can be put into action that makes it possible. We understand the huge role sports play in their lives. We need to continue to work together, abide by the guidelines, and stay diligent.”
■ Rutherford: “I have to be optimistic. We’re still preparing as if the season will be normal. Until we receive communication that tells us otherwise, we are preparing for a 16-game regular season and an eight-game postseason.”
First Published July 26, 2020, 12:30 p.m.
