OHSAA to lift no-contact

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Student athletes in the Buckeye State will get to spend time with coaches and teammates soon enough.

In a memo sent to school administrators and athletics directors Friday, the OHSAA said it will lift the no-contact rule for baseball, golf, softball, swimming and diving, tennis and track and field effective May 26.

The announcement came on the heels of the “Responsible Restart Ohio” plan Gov. Mike DeWine’s outlined Thursday, stating certain sports will be able to begin on that date.

Also in the release, OHSAA executive director Jerry Snodgrass reiterated spring sports will not be played after they were officially canceled April 20.

“This decision was made looking at every possible option at the time,” Snodgrass said in his memo. “It simply is not possible to put spring sports in place for everyone at this time.

“We have continued to use every possible avenue to be involved with ‘reopening’ Ohio’s sports and, while our communication has been acknowledged, we still do not have a seat at the table for reopening.”

In DeWine’s plan, it was stated non-contact sports can begin May 26. That allows those aforementioned sports to conduct off-season workouts compliant with OHSAA guidelines.

Baseball and softball, however, have specific guidelines set forth by the governor’s office. Those guidelines can be found at bit.ly/362qlFa.

After the coronavirus pandemic struck the nation in mid-March, Ohio’s schools were subsequently closed for in-person instruction thus forcing the OHSAA to implement a no-contact period. At that time, Snodgrass was adamant, and even encouraged, coaches to virtually interact with their student athletes.

On April 8, OHSAA announced a revised spring sports schedule, hopeful to still have a season. Less than two weeks later hopes were dashed as the year was given the axe.

In Thursday’s announcement, DeWine’s office did not precisely say which sports are classified as low or no-contact, therefore the OHSAA was not able to make a determination for the no-contact period for the remaining sanctioned sports.

“Under the current decision, all other sports have not been identified as being able to start,” Snodgrass said. “Please tell your other sport coaches to remain patient as we will make updates as soon as the governor’s office provides more information on what sports will be permitted, and every intent is to align with the governor’s office.”