With the spring sports being cancelled, the next question facing local sports teams is summer sports.
Several area coaches have made plans for summer activities that would begin on June 1 if they are allowed.
Newton County athletics director Justin Chaney said he expects a decision on summer activities to be made soon.
“The executive committee is going to meet on May 15, and I expect a decision will be made about the summer then,” Chaney said. “We are waiting on the MHSAA to see what they are going to do. I don’t know if there are going to be summer ball games or not. In my personal opinion, it’s going to be workouts, and they are going to limit you on the number of people you can have inside and outside at one time. After May 15, we will have some more answers about what we are going to be able to do this summer.”
Chaney said he plans on meeting with his coaches the following Monday and hopefully set plans for the summer. Chaney said all of his coaches had already submitted tentative plans for summer games to be played in June.
“Our plan is to meet with all the coaches on May 18,” Chaney said. “I want to sit down with them on May 18 to come up with a plan and get it out to the public. For me, the first thing we have to do is get our fall sports going and I know everybody is anxious to get back going. With the governor closing schools, we can’t let a kid on campus until school is out and we are going to follow the rules.”
Lake softball coach Jake Loper said the cancellation of school put him and his players behind.
“We haven’t had tryouts for the next year yet,” Loper said. “But being that we don’t have slow pitch, I feel like I have plenty of time Roget them ready if we start school on time. We will have to start from scratch in the weight room. I have encouraged them to do stuff on their own and we have some that are taking private lessons. If schools reopen on June 1, we will have workouts on that Monday and then have our first game on June 2.”
Union softball coach Jacob Casey said he hopes to be able to do something with his team this summer.
“I have been worried about the summer,” Casey said. “I have always spent a lot of time with my junior high kids in the summer. I don’t feel like they get as much time with them during the season. So I have time in the summer when I only have junior high kids. I like that because we get a lot done in those two months. I have a good sixth grade group coming up and I’m excited about them. I just hope those kids don’t miss all summer.”
Chaney agreed with Loper on getting his team ready for the upcoming fast-pitch season.
“It would be different if we were playing slow pitch in August,” Chaney said. “With us not playing till February, it’s not my biggest concern. I’m not that worried about softball and baseball. My biggest concern is getting football, cheer dance and cross country going in the fall. And then we have basketball and soccer right behind that.”
Chaney did praise the MHSAA for their efforts in communicating with the state’s ADs.
“They have been informative and have to commend them for how they’ve handled this situation,” Chaney said. “They have been very forthcoming. I have talked with them almost weekly. They know that sports is a big part of our lives. I know every coach is ready to see their kids, hug them and love them and get rolling again. I”m looking forward to it and getting the balls back out and getting back to work.”
