Kansas high school sports practices start Monday under a cloud of fear, uncertainty
When Kansas’ governing body for high school activities decided to allow sports to continue as scheduled this fall in spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, some — a good percentage of the kids who compete and their parents, especially — were thrilled.
But with fall practices, including those for football, set to begin Monday, some of those same people are confused about the finer points of the state’s green light: What about fan attendance at games and other events? Does it apply to other fall activities, like cheerleading and band? And how about concessions? These questions, and others, have engendered an enduring cloud of doubt around bringing sports back this autumn.
Two more biggies: Is this really the right thing to do? And will there be cancellations later?
The executive board of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) on July 28 voted 5-4 against a proposal that would’ve delayed the start of some fall activities, football included. Peripheral questions — those aforementioned finer points — were left up to individual schools, districts and communities to resolve.
Since KSHSAA’s vote, high school programs across Kansas have had to navigate state, county and city regulations. More locally still, district and school guidelines.
At Bishop Carroll, a private school that plays in the Greater Wichita Athletic League, officials have been adhering to Kansas, Sedgwick County and City of Wichita guidelines in maneuvering a return to play. The school has also drafted its own “Return to Learn” plan in conjunction with league guidance, Greater Wichita Athletic League athletic director J Means said.
But even meticulous observance of all pertinent rules, regulations and recommendations might not be enough to ensure this comeback endures. The Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education (KCKBOE) this week voted 5-2 in favor of suspending all involvement with KSHSAA fall sports.
And on Wednesday, Wyandotte County prohibited many non-professional fall sports and activities, including football, volleyball, soccer and marching band. Each pose significant COVID-19 risks, according to a news release from the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.
“I have seen the value that our parents and our students place on participating,” KCKBOE member Janey Humphries said minutes before a Tuesday vote in KCK. “I’ve seen the joy on the faces of our students and their parents. I know how much the sports and other events mean to our kids, but I also believe that the health and safety of our students come first. I am concerned about keeping them safe in this environment.”
In the Shawnee Mission School District, teams that compete in “high risk activities,” including football, will be allowed to practice but not compete against other teams. District board of education president Heather Ousley said that could change — more or fewer restrictions might be enacted, based on new infection rates and altered health criteria.
The Olathe School District might consider following KCK’s lead, district board of education president Joe Beveridge said in an email, but “The agenda for our September meeting won’t be put together for a couple of weeks.”
A Wichita USD 259 representative said although its district board members were scheduled to meet Thursday, there were no changes to the schedule as of Thursday afternoon. Lisa Killion, president of the Dodge City district’s board of education, said her district was focused on finding ways to make sports participation possible, and that potential suspension hadn’t really been a topic of discussion.
The Topeka and Blue Valley districts did not respond to similar inquiries from The Eagle/Star.
But even within those districts that are moving ahead with sports like football, including some featuring teams likely to contend for state championships this autumn, the fear of cancellation remains.
Derby is coming off back-to-back undefeated state championship seasons in Class 6A, the highest classification of high school football in Kansas. Corey Akins, a junior defensive back at Derby, said he’s excited to get back to practice but realizes the fragility of the situation.
“Nothing is guaranteed,” he said. “They could pass one law, say one thing, and we’ve got to shut the whole season down out of nowhere. We’re just trying to enjoy the times we have together while we can, get better while we have the chance and hope for the best.”
Derby coach Brandon Clark said the difference between now and when the pandemic began is the time for preparation that school officials have had. When Kansas high school sports came to an abrupt halt this spring, administrators and health officials across the U.S. scrambled to find what Clark called the “right” solutions.
Because of that effort, he said he believes the proper precautions are in place to allow fall sports to begin safely.
“KSHSAA really wants us to try,” Clark said. “They know we’ve been doing it all summer, and they’ve been monitoring and checking in. I think it’s going to come down to, ‘How does it progress?’ ... Our players and coaches have done a good job at following the precautions, and I think if everyone around the state can do that, I think we’ve got a chance.
“I think how school goes will be a big indicator, too.”
Maize cheer coach Lori Clinton said KSHSAA and the Kansas Department of Education seem to have differing views about this nascent resumption “normal life.”
“KSHSAA wants to get in there and get as much done of the season as possible before a possible shutdown,” she said. “(The Department of) Education wants to go very, very slow and build up to where we can be in the building all the time.”
No on-site learning, and therefore potentially no football, would also probably mean no cheerleading or band. But the more competitive cheerleaders, those who also participate in cheer outside of high school, have been active this summer, Clinton said, competing while wearing masks.
State and national guidelines frown on stunting — a more hands-on aspect of cheer — if mask mandates are ordered in a given geographical area. In such areas, masks should be taped and secured to the cheerleaders’ faces, according to the National Federation of High School Associations.
Would fans be allowed to competitions in such areas? With possibly no fans on hand — no stunting or tumbling allowed, and masks more or less muffling the clarity of chants — would it even be worth trying to proceed? Clinton believes that answer is yes.
“I’ve thought about that,” she said. “The cheerleaders have an amazing relationship with the football team. So if there is no one in the stands, it’s almost even more important that the football players feel like they’re being supported by somebody.”
The same might be said of high school bands. Like cheer, their status is evaluated on a school-by-school basis. At Wichita South, marching band has already been canceled this fall. Band competitions and field trips have been called off. And band members’ attendance at football games is in question.
“I, like many of you, am extremely sad at the loss of our marching season,” Wichita South band director Lisa Brown wrote in a letter to the school’s band members and their parents. “But this is not the loss of band. We will make music together. We will grow together, and we will have fun together.”
For now, Friday marks the final weekday without practices in the state. On Monday, KSHSAA-sanctioned sports are set to resume for the first time since March 12, when the girls and boys state basketball tournaments were canceled during their semifinal rounds.
Means, the Greater Wichita Athletic League athletic director, said he’s happy to see sports returning. But he and others across the state wonder how long this return will last. The league he represents has already seen a couple of positive COVID-19 tests among its student-athletes.
“My emotions are mixed,” he said. “There is frustration in the fact that what we plan today may get blown up tomorrow. No matter what all we do to limit the exposures, we can’t control what any student-athlete is doing outside of school.
“I am sure over the course of the fall season we will have at least one or two more instances. It’s probably not if; it’s when.”