COVID-19 metrics in Michigan
are falling dramatically

 Gov. Whitmer said in early January that the state would “seriously consider” lifting protocols sooner than Jan. 15, if progress controlling the pandemic was sustained.

   Michigan has seen dramatic reductions in COVID-19 cases since the pause was implemented. The seven-day average of COVID-19 cases in the state peaked at 7,270 on Nov. 21. It was 2,491 on Dec. 28, and fell to 1,185 on Jan. 25. Further, Michigan now has more people at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19 than the number of diagnosed cases since last March.

   Despite the progress in combating the virus, the restrictions on contact sports have not been lifted, yet indoor dining at restaurants, gyms, bowling alleys, and casinos have been allowed to reopen.

   Contact sports have also been restarted in all surrounding states with no major problems.

 At a press conference on Jan. 25, Gov. Whitmer said health officials need to monitor COVID-19 metrics before taking additional steps to lift restrictions on those high school sports.

   The delay has caused growing frustration.

   Parents, coaches and players have called on the governor to allow contact sports to resume on Feb. 1, when indoor dining at restaurants relaunches.

   Asked about a date when the sports could resume their competitions, Gov. Whitmer cited a growing number of COVID-19 variant cases in Michigan. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state's chief medical executive, said there are now 17 cases across Washtenaw and Wayne counties, and the variant is more contagious.

   "Our job is to try to curtail the spread of this new variant in Michigan," Whitmer said. "We've got to not let our guard down. We've re-engaged restaurants to a certain extent. That will increase the amount of people who are out and about. And I think it's important that we stay very

focused on where the numbers are before we take additional steps."

Administrators, grassroots group, associations make pleas to Gov. Whitmer

   It would be safe to say that the MHSAA and most in the high school sports community in the state completely disagree with that statement from the MDHHS.

   Nikolai Vitti, superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District, called on Gov. Whitmer to explain the ban on contact high school sports. He posted a map Saturday that showed Michigan was one of only two states not allowing high school basketball games (see map above).

   Vitti wrote to Gov. Whitmer on Monday urging her to immediately resume those sports.

   "To be direct, winter 'contact' sports need to start," Vitti said in a letter he released publicly. "Here in Detroit, despite continuing and legitimate fears about COVID within the community, our 31 female and male high school coaches want to play basketball."

   Vitti has long advocated allowing sports to continue amid the pandemic. He noted in his letter that he's "a supporter and critical colleague, not an adversary" of  Gov. Whitmer. Still, he voiced frustration that he said is shared by many who want school sports to resume.

   "I have grown frustrated with the lack of communication and clarity regarding when the start of winter 'contact' sports will be, why it has not started and what needs to occur for it to start," Vitti wrote.

   "Our families have analyzed the risk of playing and they want to play," Vitti said. "As you know, this is the same sentiment across the state among thousands of players, coaches, and families for not only basketball, but

Let Them Play lawyer shares evidence
that high school sports are safe

   Ruddell shared the letter that spells out the group’s case for reinstating all high school sports. The letter offers a six-part argument with the headings “Data and science supports resumption of youth sports,” “Experience from other states confirms safety of youth sports,” “Team sports are part of a student-athlete’s education,” “Education achievement is linked to athletic opportunities,” “Racial and economic inequities are growing,” and “Economic and education pathways are closing.”

   If the MDHHS doesn’t act on the request, Ruddell said the Let Them Play group then has the option of suing the state of Michigan. That could send the matter before the courts.

   “The governor has a very high batting average in these cases,” Ruddell said. “The courts have been very deferential to the governor’s declaration of emergency. But this is a different case. There are different issues at play that have not been litigated so far.”

   Let Them Play leaders feel they have science and data on their side.

   The letter sent to the MDHHS cites a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin that found “participation in sports is not associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 among high school athletes.” That study showed that of the 209 positive cases among players in Wisconsin, only one was attributed to participation in sports.

   “What makes this a strong case is our data,” said McElvany, a Monroe business owner and mother of a Milan High School athlete. “They refuse to show the data they’re using to shut sports down. We are doing the opposite.

   “We’re basically telling the new director, ‘This is why we should be playing, here is the data. We’re asking you to change (former director

 Robert Gordon’s) executive order and move sports forward like everything else in the state.’

   “Hopefully she’ll say ‘We understand. Let’s do this before it needs to go to court.’”

   The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan, Michigan Wrestling Association and Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan have each written letters in recent days to Gov. Whitmer.

    Let Them Play has another rally planned for noon Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Capitol and is banking on a large turnout of athletes, coaches and parents.

    McElvany said the group’s following on its Facebook page grew by 6,500 over the weekend after the latest extension was announced.

   Most notably, she said, is the growing number of high school administrators who are joining the cause.

   “We’re getting a much bigger response from the coaches and ADs,” she said. “They are fired up and ready to fight. Until now, most of them were not willing to say much, but I think everybody is finally saying enough is enough.”

   Michigan is one of the last state’s in the nation to OK the return of high

school sports. All states that border Michigan have resumed athletic activity.

   Most believed Michigan was about to join them on Feb. 1. But the emergency order, while relaxing restrictions for restaurants, gyms, bowling centers, movie theaters and more, was extended for contact

 sports. And Let Them Play renewed the fight it believed was over.

   “We would prefer not to take it to court,” McElvany said. “But we are 100 percent ready.”

   There is also a growing  sentiment in boys basketball coaching circles to ditch the MHSAA season and instead create club teams that would play out of state on the weekends, with some Catholic High School League coaches leading the way.

   Defending CHSL Central champion Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory saw a good bulk of its lineup form a club team late last year and travel to prep school tournaments out of state for competition under the team name Michigan Elite.