Due to:
Friday 14 August 2020 | 3:45 p.m.
Chaz Palla | Tribune Review
Bethel Park linemen go through drills during workouts Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at Bethel Park High School.
In a word, Friday’s meeting with Goai Tom Wolf staff was “uneventful.”
PIAA Executive Director Bob Lombardi presented this analysis following an unproductive interview regarding Wolf’s recommended shutdown of falls sports. The governor did not escape by his recommendation, and his staff was not receptive to concerns the PIAA had.
“There are issues we really want to discuss,” Lombardi said. “I’m a little disappointed that we did not get better answers.”
So now the PIAA has to make a decision.
The PIAA has not closed the door for future talks with the mayor’s office, Lombardi said. But the clock is ticking, fall sports begin August 24, and the PIAA appears ready to move forward without Wolf’s support.
If the PIAA board agrees to a Aug. 21 meeting to play, Lombardi predicted that a majority of the schools’ membership would fit despite the governor’s recommendation.
But for that vote, the PIAA has a busy week ahead. Lombardi said the PIAA Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine will meet again, and the Strategic Planning Committee may also meet before next Friday.
In addition, PIAA administrators were invited to meet with Dad on Tuesday. Athletic Oversight Committee, a two-party group of state legislators.
“We still have a few miles to go,” Lombardi said.
Wolf wants to postpone interscholastic and recreational youth sports until at least Jan. 1, a recommendation supported by the state departments of health and education, to prevent potential spread of coronavirus. Wolf said his recommendation is not a mandate and that locally elected school boards should decide when sports will be played, a position repeated Friday by the governor’s spokesman.
However, if the PIAA approves sports, districts would have to decide whether ignoring the recommendation would make a legal claim – an issue the PIAA raised Friday.
“We asked the staff specifically if the administration would consider providing liability for our schools because I think it would take some of the pressure off the school board,” Lombardi said. ‘I think that would be important. We asked, and they said they would come to us again. That could take a lot that takes away that type of anxiety from the central administration. ‘
As talks continue with Wolf’s administration, the PIAA proposed adding bilingual members of the state House and Senate. A number of state legislators have expressed support for bankruptcy sports in recent days.
“Let’s all get together and figure out a way, because this is not about Republicans or Democrats,” Lombardi said. “This is about students who play athletics, and try to provide a safe, healthy environment for them to learn life lessons on the playing surface.”
It is unclear whether Wolf’s staff would be interested in this approach. Wolf has not consulted the PIAA on decisions throughout the pandemic, including the delay he recommended last week.
“If we all work together, we can solve this,” Lombardi said. “If there is division, that is unfortunate, but we will continue to advocate for student-athletes.”
Two issues raised Friday involved state restrictions on collecting size. At present, girls’ volleyball matches would be limited to 25 people inside, which Lombardi called “completely unfair.” Also, Wolf has a ban on all spectators at sporting events.
“There are two enormous problems that are important to us,” Lombardi said. “We have heard loud and clear from the general public that they are important to them as well. We will continue to work on it. ”
Wolf’s spokesman notes that a number of colleges have canceled bankruptcy sports in recent days.
“The Big Ten, Pac-12, Big East and other conferences have decided to postpone their fall seasons,” said press secretary Lyndsay Kensinger. “Athletes are in close contact, not only on the field, but in locker rooms and in transit. The virus does not stop and spreads more easily when people are in close contact.
“When the school year comes, we will continue to work with schools to prepare them. We want to do everything we can to create a safe environment for children to return to school. Minimizing our exposure to covid-19 is important. Our focus remains on getting students safely back to learning and, if possible, in the classroom. ‘
PIAA talks to governor staff pic.twitter.com/uoPzM4v9e1
– PIAA (@PIAASports) August 14, 2020
Chris Harlan is a Staffune Review Staff Writer. You can contact Chris via email at [email protected] or via Twitter .
