Corona virus

grandpa

New Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2015
Messages
12
Reaction score
11
Points
3
I saw where Athens High School is closed until March 30. They will have no activities or practices during this time. If the paranoia continues, how will this affect the high school softball season?
 

daboss

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
816
Reaction score
603
Points
93
Location
Clark County Ohio (Southwest District)
I believe the epidemic has already had an effect on our present and immediate future. It will effect our society for a while until everyone is better educated and possibly inoculated from the virus. It's almost like the government is using this as a teaching moment to drive home the importance of hygiene, the main cause of the spread of most all viruses and the common cold.

In the recent past our school district rewarded students with perfect attendance by allowing them to skip exams if they met certain criteria academically. One of the worst times ever in this school's history in my opinion. The entire community suffered every winter due to the bone-heads in charge at the time. My guess is they'll never apologize for it.

People attending outdoor activities are normally effected less for all the common sense reasons. Simple practices like using hand sanitizing solutions and wiping equipment down after use can play a huge roll in fighting the spread. Sick kids and parents staying home would probably do more good than anything now. All this should have been the protocol all along.
 

Cat-Man

Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2017
Messages
85
Reaction score
46
Points
18
Dewine just implemented mandatory spring break for all Ohio schools for 3 weeks. I'm hearing from a school administrator here in SW OH that means no practice or games for sports teams either.
 

finfan365

Active Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2015
Messages
128
Reaction score
53
Points
28
Location
Southwest Ohio
Dewine just implemented mandatory spring break for all Ohio schools for 3 weeks. I'm hearing from a school administrator here in SW OH that means no practice or games for sports teams either.
Yep, beginning today no practices or participation for our school until further notice.
:(
 

Passion4theGame

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 30, 2014
Messages
1,178
Reaction score
657
Points
113
Location
Central Ohio
Website
www.cincydoom.net
My daughter plays for Lancaster Varsity and as of tonight they cancelled everything. No practice or gatherings. No contact with coaches.


OHSAA umpire meeting got cancelled last night. That told me something was gonna happen with baseball and softball.

Jerry Snodgrass is supposed to make a statement within the next 24hrs.

I commend them for getting in front of this thing.

This Virus is As Real As It Gets!
 

TheSoftballZone

Administrator
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
2,372
Reaction score
347
Points
83
Maysville Softball located in Zanesville, Ohio cancelled all practices and games for now. And the school will be closed for three weeks starting Monday. Guess everyone's in the same boat.
 

daboss

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
816
Reaction score
603
Points
93
Location
Clark County Ohio (Southwest District)
Let me point out something that many may not consider. Any time we have a virus, flu, or common cold there are certain demographics in society that suffer the most. Normally it is infants and elderly people. It's not that we're more susceptible but the effects are more devastating if we get sick. Youth in general are more resilient and even when infected they handle the symptoms and characteristics of the bug much better. The virus may not doom young adults or teenagers but they are carriers that see no harm in going on with life with this "hiccup" in their health. That "hiccup" to them could be deadly to me.

I can tell you from experience I don't handle sickness like I used to. I don't bounce back. The last time I had the flu it took 6 weeks to get back to normal. This will pass. Softball does not define you as an individual. They can always play a shortened season later if they believe coronavirus has run it's course. Some experts claim it will be middle April till the pandemic peaks. Yes, I'm using the word "pandemic" now. I was careful not to use it yesterday morning but look how fast things have changed.

I don't believe anyone would care to be fingered for having been the one to spread the virus or be indirectly responsible for somebody dying from it. Right now, this is not an overreaction.

One last point; when was the last time you saw our government or any country react the way they are now? Not me........... What kind of a message is being shared between the lines? This virus has the potential to be the plague of all plagues. Again, a softball season does not define you. Come to grips that we need to make sacrifices now to insure the well-being of society in general. We need to control our actions until we get a handle on the virus and be able to inoculate for it. We do not have a cure for it.

Wash your hands, cover your mouth!!!!!!!!!!! Be considerate of others. It's not just about you................
 

9ball

Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2016
Messages
74
Reaction score
31
Points
18
Are travel teams cancelling practice? Anyone heard of any?
 

SonicMojo

Active Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2014
Messages
218
Reaction score
122
Points
43
Dewine just implemented mandatory spring break for all Ohio schools for 3 weeks. I'm hearing from a school administrator here in SW OH that means no practice or games for sports teams either.

Some schools are still practicing. DeWine was explicit in his news conference yesterday that extracurricular activities are up to each individual school district, and that games can continue. Further, games are that not in "confined stadiums" are not subject to the ban on spectator attendance. So, for most softball teams, unless you are playing games at the Akron stadium, games can technically continue with families in attendance. The reality is, however, that school administrators are skiddish, and it's always better to "take action" to show how much you care, so games won't happen. But if an administrator, athletic director, etc. says that you can't continue softball (or school athletic activities) because of the state-mandated school closure, they are either lying or misinformed.
 

Cat-Man

Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2017
Messages
85
Reaction score
46
Points
18
Some schools are still practicing. DeWine was explicit in his news conference yesterday that extracurricular activities are up to each individual school district, and that games can continue. Further, games are that not in "confined stadiums" are not subject to the ban on spectator attendance. So, for most softball teams, unless you are playing games at the Akron stadium, games can technically continue with families in attendance. The reality is, however, that school administrators are skiddish, and it's always better to "take action" to show how much you care, so games won't happen. But if an administrator, athletic director, etc. says that you can't continue softball (or school athletic activities) because of the state-mandated school closure, they are either lying or misinformed.

Once one district does it, they will all follow. Otherwise, unless your schedule consists of schools entirely in your district, you may not have anyone to play anyway.

The sad thing is, you just KNOW some of these schools are going to have secret practices, most likely conducted by senior players, during this hiatus so they can gain that competitive edge when/if games are back on.
 

Long Baller

Active Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2014
Messages
194
Reaction score
142
Points
43
Looks like NCAA Softball may be done:

NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships
March 12, 2020 4:07pm
Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.
 

M & R Davis

Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2014
Messages
99
Reaction score
58
Points
18
Location
Central OH
Once one district does it, they will all follow. Otherwise, unless your schedule consists of schools entirely in your district, you may not have anyone to play anyway.

The sad thing is, you just KNOW some of these schools are going to have secret practices, most likely conducted by senior players, during this hiatus so they can gain that competitive edge when/if games are back on.

Not sure they all will follow. Know one of our other league schools are saying softball and baseball can practice if it’s outside. Our district has said no practice. I expect we will see something from OHSAA this afternoon to clarify some things. Can’t have some on shut down and some going out on as normal.
 

M & R Davis

Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2014
Messages
99
Reaction score
58
Points
18
Location
Central OH
So tell me, will this effect summer tournaments???

My guess would be no. Viruses do not like warmer temps and with it being three months until tournaments my gut thinks things will be back to normal at that point. Keep in mind I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night so this is purely speculative.

did just get informed that after 7 PM tonight no one will be allowed on school property for our school until they return to school after the extended break.
 

Captain_Thunder

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 24, 2014
Messages
4,384
Reaction score
332
Points
83
My guess would be no. Viruses do not like warmer temps and with it being three months until tournaments my gut thinks things will be back to normal at that point. Keep in mind I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night so this is purely speculative.

did just get informed that after 7 PM tonight no one will be allowed on school property for our school until they return to school after the extended break.

Supposed to be 88 or higher for the next 2 weeks here in Orlando and they are still shutting all the parks down and cancelling everything. So temps don't seem to be mattering at this point...
 

SonicMojo

Active Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2014
Messages
218
Reaction score
122
Points
43
Some schools are still practicing. DeWine was explicit in his news conference yesterday that extracurricular activities are up to each individual school district, and that games can continue. Further, games are that not in "confined stadiums" are not subject to the ban on spectator attendance. So, for most softball teams, unless you are playing games at the Akron stadium, games can technically continue with families in attendance. The reality is, however, that school administrators are skiddish, and it's always better to "take action" to show how much you care, so games won't happen. But if an administrator, athletic director, etc. says that you can't continue softball (or school athletic activities) because of the state-mandated school closure, they are either lying or misinformed.

OHSAA just stepped in and put out a uniform ban on all coach contact and facility use through 4/5. That will at least eliminate the disparity of some teams practicing and some not through this (at least officially). Here's the link: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/BulletinBoard/20200313updates.pdf

It also says you can still take scheduled out of state trips. Otherwise, no games or scrimmages before 4/11, (assuming practice resumes 4/6).

EDITED TO ADD : The no-contact period starts on Tuesday, 3/17
 
Last edited:

M & R Davis

Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2014
Messages
99
Reaction score
58
Points
18
Location
Central OH
Supposed to be 88 or higher for the next 2 weeks here in Orlando and they are still shutting all the parks down and cancelling everything. So temps don't seem to be mattering at this point...

i said they don’t like I didn’t say a couple days of warm wipes them out. Do some research and you will find that viruses survive in cold temps for extremely long periods and in warm temps much lower. This is in reference to their survival outside of a host. Also it’s why flu season is in cold months and not July and August. Keep in mind right now there are so many naive immunity people in regards to this virus that even in warm weather like you mention it will flourish because there are a ton of hosts to allow it to replicate. As travel ball season gets here the number of naive people to host it and the warm weather should lower its survivability and thus change the high risk situation we are currently in. I deal with viruses every day in my work and although it is with a different specie the epidemiology logic is still the same.
 

TheSoftballZone

Administrator
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
2,372
Reaction score
347
Points
83
i said they don’t like I didn’t say a couple days of warm wipes them out. Do some research and you will find that viruses survive in cold temps for extremely long periods and in warm temps much lower. This is in reference to their survival outside of a host. Also it’s why flu season is in cold months and not July and August. Keep in mind right now there are so many naive immunity people in regards to this virus that even in warm weather like you mention it will flourish because there are a ton of hosts to allow it to replicate. As travel ball season gets here the number of naive people to host it and the warm weather should lower its survivability and thus change the high risk situation we are currently in. I deal with viruses every day in my work and although it is with a different specie the epidemiology logic is still the same.

I was talkimg to someone going to attend an large tournament in a couple of week. And they had real concerns about going.

So tell me, will this effect summer tournaments???

I'm just read this order, not sure how it will effect tournaments. It does say (athletic events that exclude spectators).

From the (Columbus Dispatch)

(Dr. Amy Action, director of the Ohio Department of Health, signed an order Thursday banning gatherings of more than 100 people, the governor said. The ban does not include grocery stores, restaurants and bars, forms of transit, athletic events that exclude spectators, weddings, funerals or religious worship, DeWine said.

DeWine on Tuesday asked for event organizers and sporting events to limit spectators. Since then the NBA, NHL, MLS and Major League Baseball have postponed their seasons.)

I do believe it most cases that it will effect hosting tournaments. If someone has a tournament and has a outbreak of the virus tied back to thier event. I'm sure the state will really look hard at what steps the TD had inplace to protect the public and limiting the spectators attending said event. Now with the signed order Thursday banning gatherings of more than 100 people. I'm sure someone out there would understand the order a lot more then I would and all the legal loop holes. But I'm sure it would be a challenge to a TD to get it right both morally and ethically.

I've hosted large tournaments for years and if I was faced with the current situation I believe I woukd seek legal advice before I would host a event and make sure I do all the right things to protect the public. Most likely if I had a tournament with-in the next 2 or 3 weeks I would cancel my event and feel very confident doing so.

But if i did decide to move foeward and host my event I'm 100% sure I would make some modifications to my event.

examples of some modified structure.

Eliminate warmup before game, let both team have warm up on diamond 10 mins before game.

Have bigger gaps between games, maybe add 45 minutes between games. Help reduce traffic and crowd control.

No hand shaking or celebrations after game.

If having a 4 game guarantee, cut back to a 3 game guarantee.

Only use 3 diamonds on a 4 diamonds Complex or if you have lots of diamonds spread the games out to different diamonds to help with social separation.

Have extra restroom attendance available to insure they are kelp clean and plenty of hand sanitizer and towels available.

Ask Coaches to help reduce spectators that will be attending.
 
Last edited:

M & R Davis

Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2014
Messages
99
Reaction score
58
Points
18
Location
Central OH
I should have been more clear. I was referencing older age travel tourneys thinking mainly of June and July time frame. If talking about events in the next 3-4 weeks then that is a different story.
 
Top