Andy Close
SHARON, Pa. – Fall sports are a go.
District 10 officially passed a motion for the fall sports season to begin as scheduled, with heat acclimation week for football slated for Aug. 10, followed by the first practice date for all fall sports on Aug. 17.
The committee did reiterate that the individual school districts still have the option to make their own choice. In a survey submitted to District 10 schools, 80 percent of D-10 superintendents said they plan to proceed with fall sports as scheduled. Twenty-nine of 47 school districts responded, and just six of 17 in Erie County.
Fairview was the only school to say that they don’t plan to participate, but Fairview superintendent Dr. Erik Kinkade confirmed to WJET TV’s Mike Fenner that no official decision has been made.
Following up, Fairview superintendent Dr. Erik Kincade confirms to JET-24 that the district has at this time not made a decision to not participate in fall sports despite that survey answer submitted to D-10.
— Mike Fenner (@Fenner_6) August 5, 2020
Chairman Pete Iacino reiterated that the survey is not absolute.
Other topics discussed and approved were:
- D-10 agreed that all games not played due to COVID-19 would be treated as non games, provided schools follow proper protocol. Games could also be considered forfeits.
- Motion passed to reduce ‘Mercy Rule’ in basketball from a 40-point to 30-point second-half lead.
- Motion passed to add to handbook that there must be an official pitch-counter for baseball.
- Buhl Park is not available for cross country championships.
- Iacino stated the desire for bands, cheerleaders and parents to be at games, but said that decision is being made by the PA Department of health, as well as the Governor’s office.
Team bracketing rules were conditionally approved, with the expectation there will likely have to be changes made.
The committee also discussed the possible reduction of qualifying teams in each sport for the district playoffs, as well as only the district champion in each sport advancing to the PIAA playoffs.
It also appears likely that the district will move to using home fields for playoff games, including the potential of having one host site for each classification in soccer.
Playoff scenarios will be discussed further at the next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 9.
