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State board gives green light to sports

Practice, scrimmages, competitions allowed to start Sept. 28
September 17, 2020

For more than four hours, the State Board of Education fretted over allowing fall sports to begin this fall, and finally made a decision 4-3 in favor of it.

Some board members thought it unfair for sports to start when other student activities haven't, others talked about getting kids back in the classroom first, and some worried about the dangers of COVID-19.

“At the end of the day, things aren't 100 percent equitable,” said Whitney Sweeney, board president, who voted against the measure Sept. 17. “Our mandate is about educating our students … It's not about penalizing anyone.”

In the close vote, the board approved the latest Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association emergency regulation allowing practice to begin Monday, Sept. 28 with scrimmages and competition to follow. The decision is a reversal of a previous one by the board and DIAA to shorten the fall season, and start it in February squeezed between the winter and spring sports seasons.

Guidance from the Division of Public Health and Gov. John Carney on Sept. 1 allowed for football and other sports previously considered high-risk to be played, prompting the DIAA to revise its original fall sports decision.

In all practice and competitions, student athletes are required to wear face coverings. On the sidelines, athletes must social distance, and spectators must also social distance and wear face coverings.

“That way we don't have to alter or modify the rules of the game,” said Bradley Layfield, chairman of the DIAA.

Cross country can run as normal with staggered starts, and racers must have distance between one another.

The emergency regulation is effective for about 40 more days. Renewal, amendments and repeals are possible within that time.

“We wanted to open a path to anyone who would or could provide athletics,” Layfield said.

Local school districts or charter schools will decide whether sports are played on the high school or middle school level, and local boards will work out details such as transportation.

Durning the state board meeting, several parents spoke in favor of the regulation, especially since recreational sports have been played safely throughout the summer, and teams continue to play this fall.

“They are happening now in a safe way. It's more about making them happen,” said parent Theodore Elder about allowing high school sports to play.

“These children need some sort of normalcy in their lives. They need to play,” said Missy Trent, parent.

In absence of regular school hours, parent Michael Cole said playing time is important for students. “This is a social, emotional situation for our students,” he said.

Kelly Boettcher said there have been no COVID-19 deaths in Delaware for children ages 0-18, and parents should be the ones to decide whether it is safe for their children to play sports. “This is about choices, and parents should have that choice,” she said.

 

 

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