DeWine OK’s fall sports

COLUMBUS – Governor Mike DeWine has given the green light for sports in fall but many decisions are being left up to parents, schools and local health departments.

Get the latest data and other helpful links

His order, which could be issued as early as Wednesday,  applies to all sports but has the greatest impact on thousands of high school athletes.

DeWine’s announcement comes as practice is underway at some schools and suspended at others out of concerns over the coronavirus.

The Columbus City Schools, Ohio’s largest district, suspended school sports and extracurricular activities as of Friday.

Speaking by video feed from his home in Cedarville, DeWine said the Ohio High School Athletic Association will allow contact sports to be postponed until spring.

Under the guidelines, spectators would not be allowed to attend games with the exception of family members of players and band and drill team members.

“It’s important to remember that our student-athletes have been practicing and training with others for weeks and even months, and it has gone well. So, we believe they deserve the chance to move forward, and that the high school space is also different than the collegiate space,” said Bob Goldring, interim executive director of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, the governing body for high school sports in the state.

The OHSAA staff outlined recommendations for competition on July 22.

Golf and girls tennis competition has already begun and Goldring says soccer and field hockey seasons are scheduled to begin Aug. 21 with football, cross country and volleyball following on Aug. 24.

For the fourth straight day, Ohio health officials reported fewer than 1,000 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19.

The 958 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 reported Wednesday brought the total number to 110,881 with 3,907 deaths. There are 16,538 active cases.