Typically, “Editorial writing 101” says to think about an important issue in your community, take a position or stance on that issue, then persuade your reader. You’ll have to come along with me as I think out loud this week, as the No. 1 thing on all our minds is Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ decision to open the state for scholastic activities June 1.
This means there will be baseball and softball games across Iowa this summer. Games start June 15. Was this the right move?
Ask that question to a few people and you’ll get a wide array of answers. That’s what I’ve done the past few days. With the help of area coaches and administrators, we’ll try to think through some of this together.
Let’s rewind back to mid March, when the governor advised schools to close for a couple weeks due to the onset of COVID-19. Those recommendations became orders and it was extended another month, closing schools through April. Later still, the rest of the school year was canceled. Given the numbers, fear and unknowns, this was the right move — not just in Iowa, but nationwide.
At that point, in my opinion, the end of the school year bought us all another three months of refraining from scholastic activities. We could have tried to continue slowing the spread of COVID-19, which is still moving through the state, through August.
Viruses tend to really slow in the summer months as they don’t like the heat and humidity. By the start of the 2020-2021 school year, we could have gotten back to normal, whatever that may look like.
My heart breaks for high school athletes. It’s a big part of my job watching kids win and lose, succeed and fail, on the state’s biggest of stages. My heart often pounds along with them as we do our best to cover as many area sporting events as we can.
And to think of seniors who lost out on their senior golf, track and soccer seasons, whether it’s a 3-time state qualifying team or individual, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
That’s the world we’re living in.
Yet on May 20 that all changed when the governor sent the ball to the court of the athletic unions. I’m an outsider looking in, but my feeling is that the unions were as surprised as I was to get that ruling prior to June 1. On one hand it’s good to know earlier, but based on the press releases I got from both the governor’s office and the unions, it seemed not everyone was on the same page.
They were backed into a corner. The governor says we can play. What were they going to do? Say no? I don’t think so!
Let me stop right there and add something very important. I’m not of the belief that we should be a shelter-in-place state. I leave my house. I go to stores if/when needed. I don’t wear a mask, unless it’s an order from a certain venue.
And when games begin June 15, I’ll be there, for our kids and communities.
I immediately began thinking — our teams and coaches ride the bus, congregate in dugouts, use the same balls, helmets, bats, etc. Community members will also congregate on the same bleachers, in the same restrooms, etc.
On the other hand, baseball and softball are outdoor sports. Aside from an umpire, batter and catcher in the batter’s box, everyone else is already “social distanced” for the majority of time in an open field of play.
If it sounds like I don’t have the answers, you’re right. And I’m not the only one.
“As more and more things got canceled, it looked bleak,” said Wilton baseball coach Jake Souhrada. “The longer we went without hearing anything, you think the worst. Then (Reynolds) opens it up and we all go into scramble mode. It’s been a roller coaster. Excitement for the people who want and get to play, but unknowns as we head cautiously into this … I’m neutral on this. I see both sides. People around here have suffered from (COVID-19). I don’t know what’s right. I’ve said all along I’d support whatever the associations do. There are so many questions, hopefully they’ll find the answers.”
According to my reporting, it sounds like there will be some very important meetings and guidelines coming out this week, after we go to print of course.
“If we were an inside sport, I don’t think we would do it,” said Wilton head softball coach Kortney Denkman. “But it’s a chance at normalcy. But if you’re at risk, don’t come out."
Area schools have a lot on their plates. Can we expect people to properly social distance? Can we expect the schools to police it? I’d say no. And to be CLEAR, I’ll be a big part of the problem as well. I’ll be there, and likely not wearing a mask.
It’s been hard to get those in leadership roles to talk on the record, but Wilton Athletic Director Ryan Hetzler was willing. He said that while he supports opening it up, he was surprised given that Major League Baseball (the pros) were not going to start before July 4 — and with NO fans.
“My personal belief is yes it should open up,” Hetzler said. “But I don’t want people to think we are going to police who stands with who and if they’re six feet apart. If people want to come, we know there’s a risk.”
That’s where I am on this. It’s an “enter at your own risk” kind of endeavor now. I do know that in Wilton, there are plans to not put up the windscreens in the outfield of the baseball diamond, in hopes that people will park around the outfield like at the softball diamond. It’s unknown yet what other changes could be coming.
I’m even thinking about how to cover games from a media standpoint. It's a fluid situation.
I’ll give the Iowa Department of Education credit, as it came out right away May 20 with some rules for both practices and games. They can be found online through our athletic unions, but some of the highlights include:
June 1 practice
* Post signage prominently indicating no one should attend or participate in practice if they currently have symptoms or have been in contact with anyone with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the last 14 days.
* No dugouts may be used. Players’ items should be lined up against the fence at least six feet apart.
* Players should use their own gloves, helmets, and bats as much as possible.
* Players must bring their own water/beverage to consume during and after practice. No shared drinking fountains, portable hydration stations, or coolers may be used.
* Coaches must sanitize shared equipment before and after each practice.
* Players and coaches should check their temperatures before attending practices.
* Players should be encouraged to provide their own hand sanitizer.
* Coaches must ban the spitting of sunflower seed shells.
* Contact public health if a positive case of COVID-19 is reported.
June 15 (games)
* Use of dugouts is permitted during games only.
* Players and coaches should check their temperatures before attending practices or games.
* Anyone with symptoms of illness is not allowed to participate.
* Schools must limit the use of bleachers for fans. Encourage fans to bring their own chairs or stand. Fans should practice social distancing between different household units and accept personal responsibility for public health guidelines.
* Fans must not attend if they have symptoms of illness.
* No concession stands are permitted.
* Contact public health if a positive case of COVID-19 is reported.
Quite a list there, and I applaud all of it. Let’s look at that last point on both lists. The glaring “what if” here is, what if someone gets COVID-19 — a player, a coach, an umpire, a fan?
There are two things keeping me up at night. First, until we get a vaccine, there’s no way to know whether or not anyone at a game has the virus. Anyone could be patient zero. It could be me. Which leads to No. 2. What if someone gets it? Does the team forfeit the rest of the season? Do the team and any team it has played in two weeks have to shut down for two weeks? Hard to do in a month-long season. This will happen, and it will be in “Anytown” Iowa. I hope it won’t be here.
“We are going to be pioneers. Iowa puts our name out there to try sports. And we’ll be the laughing stock of the U.S. if this goes down,” said Hetzler. “This will be a trial run. A first step in getting back to school next fall. If it’s a flop, it may tell the tale of how to handle having students in our buildings (in the fall).”
There you have it. Sadly, there are no right answers. No concrete position I want to take. There are far more questions than answers. To the players, especially the seniors, I’m extremely happy and excited for you. You’re young, strong and resilient. I don’t worry about you. I worry more about your parents. And I worry a lot about your grandparents.
If you think I, coach Souhrada, coach Denkman or coach Hetzler are worrying too much, please remember: when we’re sitting at the Wilton softball diamond for game one June 15, we’ll only be 200 yards east of Wilton Retirement Community, where COVID-19 has been all too real. Please enter at your own risk. Please be responsible. Please be safe. Please stay home if you are ill or vulnerable.
