Ok, so we know from several comments and memos by LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine that the LHSAA is fully committed to starting fall sports, including football, on time.
We also know that the LHSAA has a plan that lets coaches know when each activity in a sport can take place, according to the phase the state is in. That plan, in the form of a chart, was sent out to the coaches over a month ago.
The chart is a combination of guidelines put together by the state, the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the White House, the National Federation of High Schools and the LHSAA’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.
But what the LHSAA has not done is ease the anxiety of the players, coaches and fans have that those fall sports will happen on time or if they will happen at all.
Take for example the sport of football. According to the chart, the LHSAA says that there can be NO contact or can there be scrimmages or games until Phase 4 of the chart has been reached. Bonine reinforced this again when he met with the House Education Committe on Monday.
As of right now, fall sports teams across the state are preparing for the season without any contact what so ever. That preparation includes only weight lifting and cardio exercises.
So, when do we reach Phase IV on the LHSAA chart?
Well, there’s the catch. The LHSAA’s definition of Phase IV cannot be reached until the State of Louisiana has gone beyond Phase III. Basically, the LHSAA is following Louisiana’s phases for opening.
That means until Governor Edwards decides that Louisiana is safe enough to get out of Phase III, there will be no contact sports (i.e. football, basketball, soccer) played in the state.
As of right now, according to the LHSAA, everything is on schedule to start fall sports on time. But, that right now is slowly fading away with each day that the state does not reach the next phase.
If the state does not enter the next highest phases in a timely manner, fall sports will most definitely face delays. That means either one of three things will happen.
Number one, games will be phased out and the season will be smaller in scope. No one is in favor of this happening; especially the players and the coaches.
Number two, the LHSAA chooses to push all sports seasons back so that each sport plays a full season. This scenario is getting the biggest push by coaches.
Number three, the LHSAA decides to flip fall and spring sports. Spring sports such as baseball, softball and track do not have as many restrictions. This scenario is probably the last resort and is not favored at all by Bonine and the LHSAA Executive Committee.
As far as the issue of having spectators at games, Bonine has said that decision will be made in conjunction with individual school districts.
What happens next does not rest in the arms of the LHSAA. How and if fall sports begins when it was originally scheduled solely depends on how fast we can get past Phases II and III and move into a more normal state of being.
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Tracey Jagneaux
Sports Editor