The School District of Lancaster board of directors agreed to allow the district’s fall sports programs to begin practicing, with plans to revisit allowing interscholastic competition on Sept. 8.
McCaskey’s football, soccer, field hockey and cross country programs have been conducting summer workouts within health and safety guidelines approved by the school board in July.
The Lancaster-Lebanon League delayed the start of fall practice to Sept. 4, with football allowed to begin heat acclimation on Aug. 31. Interscholastic competition would begin Sept. 18 for football and the week of Sept. 21 for all other sports.
Though the board voted 7-2 to allow practices to begin, directors intend to revisit allowing interscholastic competition during its meeting Sept. 8. Several directors expressed concerns that playing against other school districts risks rapid spread of COVID-19 into the Lancaster community.
“When I get really concerned is when we talk about competition,” director David Parry said. “I’m not comfortable trusting every other school board and every other school in the county. Is that increased risk level one that the community should bear?”
The board heard about an hour of comments from student-athletes and parents asking for the board to allow sports to continue while the district is in a phase of at home full remote learning at the beginning of the school year.
“If we rule ourselves out while other schools play, it will have a disproportionate impact on our students” who are trying to earn scholarships to compete at the collegiate level, said Stephen Schousen, a senior cross country runner at McCaskey. “Keep student athletes in mind while making this decision.”
Many athletes and parents talked about the importance of sports on students’ social and emotional health.
“In two years playing football, I have met some of the best friends and best mentors I’ll ever have,” said senior Donovan McAlister. “This is more than just competing; it’s a way of life.”