WECSSAA approves return to high school sports for November 22

Article content

After a 20-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, high school sports in Windsor and Essex County will resume league play on November 22.

Commercial

Article content

Almost three weeks after the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit made its recommendations for resuming extracurricular activities, the legislative meeting of the Windsor Essex County High School Athletic Association removed the final resume hurdle in a meeting on Monday night and will now continue.

“It’s good to keep going,” WECSSAA President Jim Kittl said Tuesday. “I give all the school boards, because there are four school boards that work in conjunction with the health unit, credit for trying to move forward.”

Sign-up sheets were released Tuesday so students could begin to express interest in participating. Schools have until the second week of November to commit to participating.

Commercial

Article content

“There is electricity in the school,” said WECSSAA Secretary / Treasurer Joe Amicarelli, who also coaches senior girls’ basketball at Essex High School. “It’s fun to see the smiles on the faces and they are so excited to get started.”

Kittl, who coaches girls’ hockey at St. Joseph High School, said she knows it has been difficult for the students.

“It’s not just the sports, it’s the clubs and many things that make the life of a school,” Kittl said. “Yes, it is about sports, but an educator is about involving all children with different interests in person.

“Pulling out that first sign-up sheet, it was certainly great to see the kids flocking to those sheets. It was nice to see that again. “

But to be clear, life is not back to normal yet and that will be evident in how WECSSA moves forward.

Commercial

Article content

First, any player, coach, manager, official or any other person involved with the team or in a match must show that they have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, which was a requirement of the health unit.

“It’s possible,” Kittl said of possible negative reactions requiring a full vaccination. “No matter what the decision is, there will always be people who are not happy.

“I know it has been a watershed in society and even with friends and family, but it is a requirement in minor sports and indoors. This has become the new norm and is part of where we are and hopefully we can get over it as time goes on. ”
At this point, women’s basketball and men’s volleyball will begin an abbreviated five-week schedule with a sixth week for the playoffs to decide on a WECSSAA champion to cap off the season.

Commercial

Article content

Swimming, wrestling and curling will also resume, while fall sports such as golf and tennis will be boosted in the spring along with the possibility of cross-country as well. It is unclear if soccer will continue. The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board has already said it won’t resume football until fall 2022, but other boards could still make a decision to try and celebrate some kind of season.

Additionally, no one on the court will be required to wear a mask, but those on the bench, or working on another aspect of the game, must wear a mask.

Additionally, there will be no fans in the stands for the games, although schools will have the option to broadcast the games if the capacity exists.

As for the provincial championships, OFSAA has already canceled them for fall sports and Kittle expects the same for winter sports.

“The focus is on getting the kids to play,” Kittl said. “That is the most important. You hear a lot about mental health and this is important. ”
There will certainly be obstacles along the way, but at this point Kittl is happy to see things progress towards a return to the game.

“I’m very happy,” Kittl said. “It’s just a matter of starting it now.”

[email protected]

twitter.com/winstarparker

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civilized discussion forum and encourages all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments can take up to an hour to moderate before appearing on the site. We ask that you keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications – you will now receive an email if you receive a response to your comment, there is an update from a comment thread you follow, or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Principles for more information and details on how to adjust your E-mail settings.



Reference-windsorstar.com

Leave a Comment