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Columbia first baseman Addison Maxwell records an out against Chiefland on March 10. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter) -
Columbia pitcher Luke Dotson throws a pitch against Forest on March 3. (BRENT KUYKLENDALL/Lake City Reporter)
The door remains slightly open for a return this spring but the target date keeps moving further and further away for high school athletics.
The Florida High School Athletic Association announced in a press release Tuesday that the hiatus for spring sports would be extended through at least May 3 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That comes one day after the Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran recommended that all schools be closed through May 1.
Per the release, the FHSAA also says it is considering “creative solutions” for continuing spring sports, possibly even extending the season through June 30. The FHSAA had originally postponed athletics through April 15 back on March 18 after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced schools would be closed through that date.
“Given the directive of President Trump to maintain following CDC guidelines through April 30, 2020, combined with Governor DeSantis and Commissioner Corcoran’s mandate for schools in Florida to remain closed through May 3, 2020, the FHSAA will continue to follow suit with all scheduled FHSAA meetings, conferences, and athletic events postponed,” the release said. “Pending schools are back in session and afforded the opportunity to resume activities after May 3, by Federal, State and Local authorities, the FHSAA will follow the advice and guidance available to us at that time regarding the continuance of all FHSAA spring sports.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis said on March 17 that parents would have the option to hold their child back a grade but the FHSAA followed that up a day later by saying students would not gain an extra year of eligibility. That tone changed in Tuesday’s release, with the FHSAA saying it is working toward extra eligibility if spring sports aren’t able to resume.
“The FHSAA does understand the hardships caused by Covid-19 and the inability to play spring sports,” the release said. “If we are not able to continue spring sports, the FHSAA is working diligently to create a plan regarding additional eligibility for students who have not been able to participate in spring sports.”
Granting an extra year of eligibility would be an unprecedented move at the high school level, but one Columbia coach Brian Thomas believes some kids would take advantage of.
“I think you’re going to find some kids that would stay. I really do,” Thomas said. “There are going to be kids who are ready to go and start their lives. …But I think for some you may see a few here and you may see a few there. I think once it’s put into effect, you’re going to see wheels turning on everybody’s part.
“Right now it’s a hypothetical but I think if this thing does come to fruition where it’s granted athletically, yeah I think you’ll start seeing some kids stretch their heads a little bit. I don’t think it’ll impact kids that have already signed and have committed to schools. I don’t think it’ll have any impact on them because it’s going to wipe away a promise to go play college ball. I don’t think they’re going to want to risk that.”
When the news hit Tuesday about possibly extending the season into June, Thomas called it glimmer of hope. He says so did several other coaches around the state that are all in the same group chat with him.
But at the same time, Thomas realizes that resuming sports this year is likely still a long shot. Even if players resumed practice on May 4, Thomas says players are going to need at least two weeks to get acclimated to live baseball again.
There are questions surrounding how it would work logistically as well. If the plan would be to end with the state tournaments around June 30, are games going to resume near the end of May and jump right into the district tournaments to determined the regional brackets? That isn’t ideal either.
“I love their optimism but I don’t know if I’m a fan of their realism or not because I try to be a realist,” Thomas said. “I don’t see how we can do anything until the CDC says these numbers are decreasing death-rate wise. I know that’s a morbid thing to say but I don’t think we can risk anything with contact until these numbers start to show a super-huge decline. Are we prolonging the inevitable to continue to give kids the hope? At some point we have to say, ‘Look, it is done.’”
Fort White athletic director says those coaching his spring teams have become numb to the hiatus. He compared it to a long rain delay in baseball or softball where you aren’t sure when you can resume action.
Only this is a lot more saddening. Wilson is trying to remain optimistic but he held a similar outlook to Thomas.
“I feel bad for the seniors that we’re looking forward to this,” Wilson said. “I’m looking at it this way — at some point and time you’re going to have to say no unless you extend it into the summer.”