Posted on 08/20/2020 2:01:05 PM PDT by lightman
HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf made a recommendation that students not participate in sports this fall. The PIAA is meeting Friday to discuss their options.
But the parents, coaches and student athletes who gathered Thursday at the state Capitol said that decision should be left up to one group.
Julie Burkart and Rachelle Gibbs, of Easton, organized today’s Let Our Kids Play rally to let that message be known.
“Back when Gov. Wolf on Aug. 6 made his recommendation that fall sports be suspended until at least Jan. 1, 2021, it had a ripple effect,” Burkart said. “The PIAA put a hold on sports in Pennsylvania and school districts started shutting down their programs, and parks started closing. We got a little riled up, and so did a lot of people across the state of Pennsylvania, and here we are to do something about it.”
Gibbs added, “Since we lost our spring season, we feel it’s time to move on and move forward and find solutions and figure this out.”
Burkart has a 13-year-old daughter who is about to start her cross-country season, and her 11-year-old son plays football. Gibbs has two boys, 17 and 13, who play football and lacrosse, and they’re hoping their kids – and student athlete all across the state -- can participate in sports this fall.
“We’re hoping to support PIAA and their great efforts to get fall sports up and running,” Burkart said. “We would like the governor’s support to keep fall sports moving in the right direction and opening.”
And it can be done safely, even during the coronavirus pandemic, they said.
The Let Our Kids Play rally was held on the Capitol steps this morning with more than 100 participants coming out to save fall sports.
Gov. Tom Wolf had made a “strong recommendation” that youth and high school sports not be played until at least January, but there is no mandate or order that would prevent fall sports from happening.
The PIAA Board of Governors will meet Friday to decide whether or not the fall sports should start formal practices next week. Some conferences, such as the Mid Penn and Lancaster Lebanon League, have already decided to push back the start of those until early September, which means games could not be played until the end of the month at the earliest.
The speakers at today’s rally included student athletes, state representatives and senators, school officials and parents.
It occurred the same day as the state House Education Committee approving a package of bills that addresses the coronavirus’ impact on education and students’ ability to participate in extra-curricular activities.
One of the speakers at today’s rally was Ashlyn O’Neill, a senior, student athlete and cheerleader with York Catholic High School.
“This was supposed to be our year,” she told the crowd, getting a round of applause. “It is my hope that all seniors get to experience their final year in their sport.”
But that uncertain future is having an emotional impact on students across the state, she said.
Playing sports can be done in a safe manner, and all students and parents should be able to make that choice, she said, adding “Canceling fall sports is not the way to go.”
Several lawmakers spoke today, including state Rep. Mike Reese, who had introduced the legislation he said would, “provide clarity to school officials by making certain the decision to conduct school activities is indeed their own.”
Reese said there is always risk in every activity, but it’s up to parents to mitigate that risk. By not participating in school and sports activities, students are facing an even greater risk of missing out on some of life’s greatest lessons. Sports teaches young people how to lose, he said, but when you get knocked down, you learn how to get up.
And playing fall sports can be done safely, speakers like James McGovern said. He is the superintendent of Lake-Lehman School District in Luzerne County, and he was joined at the podium by several members of the high school’s football team.
The wellbeing of students is always the top priority, he said, but schools are being bombarded with often-conflicting information about the coronavirus and the precautions they should take.
“Waiting for the perfect answer, we have stood still, but now is the time to act,” he told the crowd.
The needs of the community no longer line up with the governor’s recommendations, he added, and school districts willing to compete need to collaborate to make that happen.
“Let’s not be remembered by what happened to us, but by how we responded,” he told the crowd, leading to chants of, “let them play.”
And state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who has been a frequent critic of the Wolf administration’s handling of the pandemic, headlined the event, telling the crowd, “Why are we even asking the governor? We will play.”
Prior to the event, a few student athletes talked to PennLive.
Blaise Napierkowski plays center for the Lake-Lehman High School Black Knights football team. If there’s no fall season, he’ll miss out on his senior season, he said. He’ll miss out on the chance for not only the camaraderie of being part of a team, but also capturing a few clips for his highlight reel to possibly play in college.
The team is practicing, they’re doing it safely, sterilizing the equipment, wearing masks in the weight room and gathering in smaller squads, all without any coronavirus infections, he said.
And Katelyn Woolson, a Biglerville High School senior who plays soccer and basketball, said sports are more than a game – they’re a big part of her life.
“It really means a lot of us to play,” she said. “I want to go to college for basketball, and not being able to play my senior year, it hurts.”
She said it can be done safely, and she hopes to hit the soccer field this fall.
Lyndsay Kensinger, the governor’s spokesperson, released this statement in response to the rally:
“Two weeks ago, the administration made a recommendation, not an order or mandate, for schools to postpone the fall sports schedule. The administration left the decision to the local schools and the PIAA.
“Since this initial recommendation, the Big Ten, PAC 12, Big East, and other conferences have decided to postpone their fall seasons. Athletes are in close contact, not just on the field but in locker rooms and in transit. The virus is not stopping and spreads more easily when people are in close contact. As the school year approaches, we will continue to work with schools to prepare. We want to do everything we can to create a safe environment for children to return to school. Minimizing our exposure to COVID-19 is paramount. Our focus remains on safely getting students back to learning and, if possible, in the classroom.”
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Notre Dame suspends practice due to covid test
mets game cancelled just now due to Covid right as I was placing a bet.
one football QB player out of college ball...cant remember where..due to lung damage from Covid
covid has a lot of ripple effects.
btw, one poster here has a brother that plays competitive tennis. He thinks his career is now shot because of Covid
Haven’t seen an update to see if he got tested.
I thought tennis was okay as long as you didn’t touch each other’s balls.
Also, if you are sports betting Covid is a nightmare.
For example, I know Inter will score at least one goal in the championship game. But to get good odds I need to parlay it with something else I think will win. I placed one with the Mets game number of runs....and now...I am stuck with just the Inter bet at lousy odds.
On to the next one.
Mastriano is right. These parents should stop wasting their time protesting at the state capital and get to work organizing sports events for their kids EVEN IF THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHUT THEIR SPORTS DOWN.
It may be impractical to play a sport like football independently on such short notice, but most of these other high school sports can be run without any help from a school district.
wow..i thought the dog cone on servers in restaurants was a joke...but uh..no
https://www.maine.gov/decd/checklists/restaurants
Require employees to wear cloth face coverings and practice good hand hygiene. It is acceptable for kitchen staff to wear face shields in lieu of masks when the kitchen or weather is warm. Front-of-house staff may wear a face shield in lieu of a face covering only if the shield is designed to be worn inverted, attaching below the face (e.g. as a collar) and open at the top of the shield, with the shield extending above the eyes and laterally to the ears. Face shields that are open at the bottom, directing breath downward, are not acceptable replacements for face coverings for front-of-house staff. (Updated 8/14/20)
Of course, the Demonrats know how to punish America for voting for Donald Trump: TAKE AWAY SPORTSBALL. That’s what this is, of course. If not, WHY WASN’T SPORTSBALL CANCELLED under OBAMA for Swine Flu?
Gosh, I wonder how the shutdown of so many sports programs at all levels is going to impact the futures of African-American kids and their families' future earnings? If no one rides to the rescue, it doesn't look good for the Demagogic Party state governments, the NCAA, etc...
I used to care about pro sports until they took a knee, etc.
I used to care about college football until I realized that the kids playing now will be taking a knee in the NFL, NBA, NHL, etc. Now, I really don’t care and I will no longer watch them either.
Cancel culture is what they want, cancel culture is what they get.
LOL. You can destroy the economy of the entire country, but when the bread and circuses stop, look out!
Nero had more savvy than Zerø aka Tommie the Commie
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