‘It will look a lot different’: C.O. high school football still in limbo
(Update: Adding video, comments from C.O. athletic director, football coach, Peter Weber)
OSAA Executive Board hopes for new state guidance in the next few days
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregon high schools got the green light Monday to resume non-contact football practices.
But with contact sports still banned by the Oregon Health Authority, the Oregon School Activities Association approved alternatives to the traditional 11-on-11 football.
OSAA Executive Director Peter Weber told NewsChannel 21 on Monday, "Well, it will look a lot different.”
The OSAA approved schools to play 7-on-7 and flag football, which are allowed under current restrictions during a meeting of its executive board. It stopped short of deciding if a potential spring football season could happen.
Mountain View High School Athletic Director Lance Haas said, "We get a chance to first and foremost, play contact football. I'm excited about that, that they didn't just jump off to a decision."
Haas said this was a good compromise, with the OSAA waiting for new guidance regarding contact sports from the Oregon Health Authority as soon as this week.
"I think for us, the focus was on trying to provide options," Weber said.
Lineman, who would be excluded from 7-on-7, can particpate in a virtual combine.
Weber was hopeful the alternatives will only be temporary.
"Given our discussions with the governor's office and the OHA, we anticipate some changes to the contact sports guidance,” he said. “We don't know what those are going to be."
That leaves coaches, like Bend High School’s Matt Craven, in limbo.
"We're just going to proceed like the season is going to happen,” Craven said. “But the uncertainty definitely hangs out there."
He was frustrated the announcement is deferred again.
"People just want to know,” Craven said. “If we're going to do it, let's do it. If we're not going to do it, tell us what we can do, and we'll do that."
In the meeting, the OSAA also approved soccer and cross-country to start practice on Feb. 22. Volleyball can start that day as well, but only in counties lower than those labeled "Extreme Risk" by the OHA (Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson remain in that risk level, for now).
My sport & I said sport starts Feb 14 th at Daytona Speedway
Why would you even want your kid to play football unless you didn’t like the kid!
flag football really why dont schools wait till next fall, unless we get the yak flu from mongolia during the summer which will be like this virus but will turn you into a member of duck dynasty for a week. Whats next a penalty will be acessed 15 yards for hurt feelings and a counselor will have to be on the sidelines
what about the cheerleaders? do they still get to perform?
Boo! Let them play. Other States are playing full tackle football. Open up the state, our numbers are lower than most other states. Come on Kate wake the H up.
How about we deal with getting the kids educated and deal with sports in the Fall once we have a better idea how the vaccine efforts are going.
Wow you should just send in the GIRLS to play .that’s just crazy what happen to REAL FOOTBALL well looks like I’ll never go to another school football game or I have grandkids can they play
Look to the other states that have been successful last year. Copy them.