Notes, quotes and a thought or two...
As we head to this weekend, it was brought to my attention that local high school teams should be entering the playoffs. As it currently stands, the Mississippi High School Activities Association has cancelled its spring sports season.
But the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools has still left open the possibility of trying to play some sort of playoff. Apparently, that decision is supposed to be made at some point this week.
At this point, it has been at least six weeks since the private schools have played. I think that’s a major problem to try and restart a season at this point. Mississippi private schools have allowed teams to continue to practice and scrimmage. But there are more schools that haven’t been allowed to practice either.
At this point, I have to wonder how wise it is try and restart the season at this point. Baseball isn’t a game that you can just pick up and start on a whim. Players have to work their arms and that takes time. And with some schools practicing and some not, how would it be fair to try and play some sort of playoffs or abbreviated season at this point.
I certainly understand that sports is a vital part to MAIS schools but I believe we are at the point of no return when it comes to athletics. I’ve said before that I thought Newton County Academy would easily win the Class AA title this year, its it really worth it when you consider the health of the players and fans and all of those involved in a game. It could easily come off without a hitch but is it really worth trying at this point.
Let’s just call it an end and move on.
Looking at football
The MHSAA said member schools could start summer workouts in some form on June 1. But I think that date is still a stretch at this point.
I’ve told several people that I have serious doubts that the high school season will be played as planned. At this point, it’s hard to see how things will return to normal by June 1, much less July 1. Even more so than baseball, it takes time to prepare a player for a football season, mainly because of the heat you have to deal with at that time of the year. Coaches spend all summer getting players in shape for the season in a regular circumstance. But think of it this way, players haven’t lifted on a regular basis since spring break. Normally, they take about two weeks off after school is out but now they would be looking at close to 11 weeks. That’s a long time.
I’m sure some have lifted but I feel confident that most have not. With that said, I hope everyone involved in the decision making will take these things into account.
Contact sports editor Robbie Robertson at sports@newtoncountyappeal.com
